Hi Ruthie,
I got a set of Henkel knives for christmas. Just love them. I checked out several brands before I picked these out. I liked the weight distribution in the handle of these and the way they fit my hand. Seem to be good quality.
I recently got a set of Wolfgang Puck's cookware. It's awesome. Has the glass top lids so you can observe the cooking process. Cleans up easily. The set includes all necessary pots and pans for cooking and is reasonably priced. Purchased as Sam's Club.