Typical US kitchen items for a Polish kitchen?

[ala-kat]

I'm so glad this forum is here, as I don't know how to find the info on my own.

Today, a good Polish family friend is on his way home. I've met some of his family, but not his live in girlfriend. He tells me she loves to cook and I would like to pick up some things a US kitchen may have that hers wouldn't. I know I've had to pick up a scale for my use of metrics

I've thought about measuring cups and spoons...not the high dollar ones, because the cheapies measure just as well, but they might help in translating the US recipes.

I don't want to stop there, and would really love some ideas that would be appreciated in this manner.

Thanks for any and all ideas here

[duonyte]

My parents moved back to Lithuania, and I found that mother needed measuring cups and spoons - cheap is just fine. She did not use a scale, but I found it helpful when I visited. I also bought some hard plastic type of dishes to use in the microwave - what they had was not BPA free.

It depends on what she likes to cook. If she likes Italian, something like a ravioli maker (the type that is a tray that you put the pasta sheet down, put in the filling and then another pasta sheet and roll) might be nice. They should be able to get pierogi makers which are similar but the shape is just wrong

Spices and herbs are pretty available in EE now, but something like maple syrup is definitely a novelty. If Mexican or Southwest is of interest, chili peppers (powders or whole) would be welcome - they get things used in Asia, etc. but it's not the same.

They get so much from Ikea and stores like that, it's not like it was 10 and 20 years ago where practically anything was a novelty - safety pins were a huge sensation!

My cousins did all love vegetable peelers and also silicone spatulas were very popular.

[ala-kat]

Thank you SO much for your reply. This is exactly the stuff I'm looking for. Veggie peeler did cross my mind... I've never been so I am clueless. The spatulas are also a great idea. He took home syrup, Italian seasoning, bread crumbs....I want to put together a box for Christmas... tell me if I am wrong here, but I can get measuring cups and spoons at the dollar store, and they work fine for me Am I being too cheap? I'll send her two sets of each...Just don't want to insult anyone.

[duonyte]

Cheap is just fine, but make sure that the measurements are embossed into the cup/spoons and not just silk-screened/painted on. I made a mistake and bought a set like that, and the measurement wears off. I could easily figure out which was which and used them in the oatmeal bin, etc, where I mostly use the same amount of the product each time.