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Having trouble finding a food magazine that fits just the way you want to cook? Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton produce three cookbooks a year, full of thoughtfully chosen, absolutely delicious-sounding dishes. And there’s no better food photographer than Hirsheimer anywhere.
$49.95, thecanalhouse.com (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Unicorn magnum plus pepper grinder
This is an excellent peppercorn grinder. It has a precisely cut, extra large grinding mechanism with a wide range of adjustability and an easy-to-fill storage chamber (with a sliding loader) that holds a lot (almost 11/4 cups) of peppercorns.
$45, http://www.unicornmills.com (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
Mortar and pestle
Smart cooks would choose a mortar and pestle any day over a spice grinder, or even a blender or food processor. Pounding with a pestle crushes and pulverizes spices, herbs and other ingredients to release more of the oils.
Prices vary, but you can find a good one for less than $50, widely available (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
