The Recipe Doctor's Top 12 Healthy Cooking Gadgets

Every year, my husband and girls spend an hour or so at a kitchen store shopping for stuffers for my Christmas stocking. I've gotten all kinds of crazy gadgets over the years, from mushroom slicers to a microwave hot dog holder.

Truth is, they would be better off stuffing my stocking at Bath and Body Works (I love that store!). That's mostly because I already have a favorite cast of kitchen characters. These are the tools (some aren't even that expensive) that I use over and over again.

In honor of the holidays, I am happy to share with you my Top 12 lineup of helpful and healthful kitchen tools, in the hopes one may end up in someone's stocking or as someone's Hanukkah gift this year!

Please note that although I LOVE my KitchenAid mixer and it is a permanent fixture on my kitchen counter, it didn't make the list because -- let's face it -- it's pricey. Something that sells for $300 isn't a gadget, it's an investment.

1. Misto Olive Oil Sprayer

There are many times when I want to disperse a small amount of olive or canola oil onto the surface of a pan or a food, instead of drenching it in oil. This way, you're still using oil -- but a lot less. A thin layer of oil on the surface of the food enables it to brown and crisp as it cooks. The best part about the Misto sprayer is that you don't have to throw it away when it's empty, unlike the cans of oil spray, which keeps your kitchen environmentally-friendly.

Cost: You find it in many kitchen stores for about $9.99.

2. Lemon Zester Hand Tool

I love this thing! I "zest" the peel off lemons, limes, or oranges for all sorts of recipes, from muffins, cakes, and bars to pies and pancakes. The zest, or outermost layer, of a citrus fruit holds plenty of aromatic oils, so this is an easy way to add a punch of flavor without extra calories or fat.

Cost: There are several brands, but they start at about $6.99 with Oxo brand Good Grips Zester.

3. Battery-Operated Pepper Mill

Since I don't use a lot of salt in my cooking and I'm always looking for ways to punch up flavor without adding fat or calories, the pepper mill is real popular at my house. I love the battery-operated mill because I can add the pepper with one hand while I'm holding a whisk in the other. And there's something about freshly grinding your pepper that adds to the flavor. There's a new "gravity" battery operated mill -- just turn it upside down and the pepper grinds itself.

Cost: Two battery-operated mills (Gravity and iTouchless) both cost about $19.99.