For those adventuring into home baking, a pizza stone can be a great gift. Despite the name, pizza stones are also great for free-form loafs and small breads. Made from an unfinished ceramic, pizza stones retain heat and evenly distributes it through your bread. The porous stone is also able to absorb excess moisture, ensuring crisp and tasty pizza bases. Simply pop in your oven before pre-heating and wait for it to reach temperature. The only trick to remember is never wash a pizza stone with soap. Just like the stone absorbs moisture, it will also absorb your sudsy soap. In stead simple scrape off any reside and then wash in warm water. A simple to use item that adds a lovely crunch to pizzas, a pizza stone is one of those must haves you'll constantly find new uses for. Easy to find at department stores and cook shops, John Lewis offer a Pizza Stone for £12.