Honey dippers, plus all of the above. If you or friends imbibe, a muddler. Or a spurtle, or any of Nick Cook's other simple spindle projects. Kip Christensen and Rex Burningham have a series of DVDs with project ideas, as well. The well known Richard Raffan has a book of projects, as do several other turners.
Any kind of spindle project is good practice as you get going. Even a bead and cove stick, just for practice and to learn how to ROLL beads and SCOOP coves. (The late David Nittman was fond of saying, "There are only 3 cuts in woodturning, a bead, a cove and a flat")
When you're comfortable with the tools and the ABC's, (Anchor, Bevel, then Cut) then you can move on to face grain projects, like bowls and plates, with that nicely sharpened bowl gouge. Face grain projects have the grain oriented differently than spindle projects, and require you to approach the wood differently, and keep that grain orientation in mind. IMHO, end grain hollowing and natural edge bowls are best left til last.