Sunbeam, Oster, and crock-pot: your kitchen's new three-pronged offense.

• Position: What's New?

If you're intent on feasting this holiday season--and who isn't?--your kitchen (and gift list) needs the proper equipment. Remember, cooking for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's is a marathon, not a sprint. So be prepared for the long haul; it should be a wonderful culinary journey.

From holiday baking to year-round feast making, give a gift that has withstood the test of time. The Sunbeam Heritage Series Stand Mixer ($129.99) promises powerhouse performance in a sleek, savvy design, as it is constructed of durable die-cast metal. Features include a 350-watt motor for effortless mixing at any of the 12 variable speed settings, and heavy-duty accessories that are color-coded for quick and easy insertion, whether making bread or cookie dough, cake better, and more. For added convenience, the mixer's free-spinning bowl improves overall efficiency, while its slightly off-center bowl alignment translates to mess-free adding of ingredients while in operation and minimal scraping. A slow start feature prevents splatter. It includes stainless steel beaters, dough hooks, and 4.6-quart bowl.

Quite possibly the handiest gadget for quick and easy food prep, the Oster Top Chop 4-Cup Chopper ($24.99) features a large bowl, 250-watt motor, and stainless stool S-blade chops that minces and even makes salsa in seconds. Convenient top mount, pulse, and continuous chopping functions provide superior control. All parts are dishwasher safe, and the metallic red finish looks great on the counter.

Pull the plug! Kick portability up a notch this holiday season with the next generation CrockPot Cook & Carry Slow Cooker featuring HeatSaver Stoneware ($69.99). The days of looking for an available power outlet to keep food warm while entertaining are over. Specially designed stoneware maintains optimal serving temperature even without a power source, keeping food hotter longer than existing portable slow cookers. A travel temperature gauge provides visual feedback on the temperature of the food once it has been unplugged, while robust, integrated...