From Every Day with Rachael Ray November-December 2005     The 30 people in our network—ages 26 to 67, from around the country—are not exactly average. Art Singer, alias "Chilidude," grows savina peppers in his backyard so that freshly made chili is never far away. Instead of keeping a diary, Annie Brown details her dinner parties—the guests, conversations and recipes—in a comprehensive notebook that she plans to bequeath to her children. Swati Katakkar first experienced the power of food when she watched her mother walk into her kindergarten class with a batch of birthday potato samosas, and to her surprise and relief, her classmates devoured them. Thomas Novak considers himself "the godfather of the flauta" and regularly hosts spicy food "hell night" parties. And so on. The Every Day with Rachael Ray Real Cooks Network is made up of people like you. Though not professional chefs, they cook and eat for more than fuel; they do it for togetherness, creativity and a daily dose of fun. Think of them as you would your cooking pal on speed-dial, the friendly guy at the cheese counter or your favorite restaurant's headwaiter. They know food, and they're here to help. And for your enjoyment (and imitation), here's what they crave. MVP (Most Valuble Presents) These copycat cooks crave the same stuff. That must mean it's really, really good. 7 REAL COOKS WANT A SILPAT MAT The ability to get a good release from a cookie sheet without adding calories or off-tastes is attractive. --Michael Knock, 38, Iowa City, IA. 16 1/2-by-24 1/2-inch mat $20 demarle.com; 832-217-3340 5 REAL COOKS WANT A LE CRUSET FRENCH OVEN I really want one of these because they are so beautiful, and they can go right from stovetop to oven. —Sara Richardson, 26, Dearborn, MI 5 1/2-quart model $190 lecreuset.com 3 REAL COOKS WANT A MANDOLINE This is so handy for slicing when the Cuisinart just doesn't cut it, so to speak. --Stuart Wilber, 67, Seattle, WA Benriner mandoline $55 surlatable.com; 800-243-0852         Fresh Bay Leaves   Mimolette Cheese   The Grits Guide to Life I would love a bag of these. The flavor is so much better than the dried ones at the supermarket. I hope they end up in my Christmas stocking! —Sherril Steele-Carlin, 49, Reno, NV One dozen leaves $3 weslynfarm.com   I love this: a semihard, slightly sweet cheese that tastes great with crusty bread. I first learned about it at a cheese shop in Paris near the Eiffel Tower. —--Lee Blaylock, 40, Dallas, TX $23 per pound murrayscheese.com; 888-692-4339   For any Southern woman on your gift list, I recommend The Grits (Girls Raised in the South) Guide to Life (Plume). It is filled with life stories and recipes. —Barbara Hahn, 60, Park Hills, MO $14 penguin.com                   DaVero Meyer lemon olive oil   Capresso CoffeeTEC   Provençal oilcloth tablecloth This is on my wish list, but I may give it to myself as an early Christmas gift. I love Meyer lemons, and I use olive oil in everything I cook, so I can't wait to taste them together. —Adrienne Saunders, 27, Sewell, NJ 375 ml $24, davero.com; 888-431-8008   My best friend purchased the Cadillac of coffeemakers, the Capresso CoffeeTEC, and I want it. He doesn't deserve it. He just started drinking coffee. Me, I'm a lifelong lover of the bean. —Thomas Novak, 29, Philadelphia, PA $200 capresso.com   I want a beautiful Provençal oilcloth tablecloth because it's gorgeous and practical. Two small children and an antique cherry dining room table don't always mix. This is the perfect solution. —Annie Brown, 38, Denver, CO 60-inch tablecloth $75, frenchrendezvous.com; 877-937-3624                   Ateco Cookie Cutters   Julia Child DVD   Fairytale Brownies I do a lot of baking during the holiday season—pies, tarts and, of course, cookies. No gift box leaves my house without a few personalized treats. These Ateco cookie cutters would make the perfect blank canvas. —Christine Grimm, 33, Ridgewood, NY 6 cookie cutters $9, www.atecousa.com; 516-676-7100   We can all learn so much from Julia Child. What a classy and fun lady. —Ginger Moreno, 64, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 3 DVDs or VHS tapes $40 wgbh.org ; 617-300-5400   I have sent goodies from Fairytale Brownies to my family and friends for years. They are the best brownies I have ever tasted and come in every flavor imaginable. —Toni Riola, 30, Olathe, KS One dozen brownies $37, brownies.com; 800-324-7982             Citrus Handwash I know many of my friends wouldn't splurge on this for themselves. It has a fresh scent that gets the food smells off your hands. —Kristen Falso-Capaldi, 35, Providence, RI 6.9 fluid ounces $17; crabtree-evelyn.com; 800-272-2873 For more gift giving ideas, see our Special Gift Guide. It's got Rachael Ray's personal picks!

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