When it comes to cooking there is nothing more defeating that not knowing where to begin. With this in mind the simplest and easiest solution is to have the right tools on hand, and getting to be familiar with how to use the tools accordingly. A common misconception is that fancy, expensive gadgets are necessary in order to cook something marvelous, colorful and top-notch in quality. This could not be more false! In our experience, we have lived in unfinished kitchens (never completed, btw and it was not being remodeled FYI, enough said here) to a studio sized kitchen that hardly fits two with sink sharing a wall to bathroom, and finally even to deluxe car camping cook outs using one burner (dual team efforts here). All we're suggesting is that all of the recipes provided here and beyond don't actually require you to have all the tools on hand, but the knowledge, confidence and intention to eat a quality meal that is full of healing powers. In the simplest way stated, all it takes is having the right ingredients on hand with tools that allow you to prepare them into the perfect food medicine.
Now, let’s get down to the basics diving head first into a skeleton collection of necessary tools. When we made the choice to start living a more holistic lifestyle we began with the physical (movement), and naturally food fit into place here too. We had made the choice to live on our own, and take our dietary selection into our own hands! As inspiring and black and white as this may seem, this was actually terrifying for us being 20+ year olds. With this in mind, this brings up an important note, costs, we all have budget in mind when choosing to consume. The wisest advice we can give here is, “Buy nice, or buy twice”, as a wise friend use to say. Instead of purchasing a collection of low quality, questionable materials consider investing with the attitude “less is more”, and “quality over quantity” while remaining within your price range. One can continue to add to the collection as their budget allows, and overcome the obstacle of having to replace other kitchen tools in a short period of time, meanwhile well-worth saving time and costs later. Here is what we recommend starting with the Basics list recommended below.
Basics:
As time moves on, and we begin to realize that most of our time spent in the kitchen could become easier with more expertise tools. We are firm believers in quality kitchen equipment for a few reasons. For starters, we home-make our meals 100% of the time. With this, we enjoy participating in the preparations of food (quality-time) it enriches the next experience of breaking food together. In sum, we are setting intention, mindfulness and acknowledgement to the life that is giving back to supporting your life. Initially, this is the first stage of digestion, experiencing the food. A second reason as to why kitchen equipment serves handy to us, is the opportunity to prepare diversity of food to meet our needs (local/seasonal) and experience/learn how to prepare it optimally. Refer to the vegetable preparations sheet as a prime example as to how having a vegetable steamer makes a world of difference! The final important reason we will express here is that it shortens the time spent in the kitchen, making all of our meals from home can be challenging if we are uncertain on what we are doing, or don’t have the right tools, eliminating insecurity and replacing it with opportunity is one solution to this situation. Overall, less time in the kitchen means more time elsewhere, now who doesn’t love that? This next list is a more evolved set of tools, if you will. Given we are classifying these as more advanced, we also would like to acknowledge they are pricier and recommend saving up with someone for some of these items, or only to invest with intention to share. For example, the food processor we recommend is heavy duty, and even with our large appetites we hardly use this puppy to the maximum, this is a situation where your own experience weighs out the necessity, if you have a Vitamix it is nearly convenience at this point over necessity. With this in mind, please be wise in your investments, separate necessity and resourcefulness from wants and needs, this helps determine if its a cosmetic desire or if you truly know this will add value to your life and overall your health. Disclaimer, just because you purchased all the equipment to look the part, it does not mean the knowledge will follow in suit, or the experience. All of this will come in time and with your of refining from your individual experience apart from our own, as it should with a diversity of needs to match your personalized human design.
Evolved:
Now, let’s get down to the basics diving head first into a skeleton collection of necessary tools. When we made the choice to start living a more holistic lifestyle we began with the physical (movement), and naturally food fit into place here too. We had made the choice to live on our own, and take our dietary selection into our own hands! As inspiring and black and white as this may seem, this was actually terrifying for us being 20+ year olds. With this in mind, this brings up an important note, costs, we all have budget in mind when choosing to consume. The wisest advice we can give here is, “Buy nice, or buy twice”, as a wise friend use to say. Instead of purchasing a collection of low quality, questionable materials consider investing with the attitude “less is more”, and “quality over quantity” while remaining within your price range. One can continue to add to the collection as their budget allows, and overcome the obstacle of having to replace other kitchen tools in a short period of time, meanwhile well-worth saving time and costs later. Here is what we recommend starting with the Basics list recommended below.
Basics:
- bamboo spoon, knife and fork set (honestly, we use bamboo spoons solo for a long time without purchasing silverware)
- high speed blender- Vitamix
- french press
- kettle
- coffee/herb grinder
- set of 16 oz. to quart sized jars (mixed variety available at local thrift shops or up-cycling products purchased in store)
- nut milk bag or cheese cloth
- variety set of pots and pans
- metal strainer or colander
- variety pyrex bowl set (recommended a set that has a variety of sizes, but includes lids and a double boiler bowl in the set)
- solid knife
- bamboo or ethically sourced quality wood cutting board
- parchment paper (ethical, quality & recycled brands available)
- glass or stainless steel measuring cups (can omit needing these initially if a pyrex set is owned they go as low as 1 cup - larger and generally state on the lid the sizes)
- measuring spoon set (stainless steel recommended)
As time moves on, and we begin to realize that most of our time spent in the kitchen could become easier with more expertise tools. We are firm believers in quality kitchen equipment for a few reasons. For starters, we home-make our meals 100% of the time. With this, we enjoy participating in the preparations of food (quality-time) it enriches the next experience of breaking food together. In sum, we are setting intention, mindfulness and acknowledgement to the life that is giving back to supporting your life. Initially, this is the first stage of digestion, experiencing the food. A second reason as to why kitchen equipment serves handy to us, is the opportunity to prepare diversity of food to meet our needs (local/seasonal) and experience/learn how to prepare it optimally. Refer to the vegetable preparations sheet as a prime example as to how having a vegetable steamer makes a world of difference! The final important reason we will express here is that it shortens the time spent in the kitchen, making all of our meals from home can be challenging if we are uncertain on what we are doing, or don’t have the right tools, eliminating insecurity and replacing it with opportunity is one solution to this situation. Overall, less time in the kitchen means more time elsewhere, now who doesn’t love that? This next list is a more evolved set of tools, if you will. Given we are classifying these as more advanced, we also would like to acknowledge they are pricier and recommend saving up with someone for some of these items, or only to invest with intention to share. For example, the food processor we recommend is heavy duty, and even with our large appetites we hardly use this puppy to the maximum, this is a situation where your own experience weighs out the necessity, if you have a Vitamix it is nearly convenience at this point over necessity. With this in mind, please be wise in your investments, separate necessity and resourcefulness from wants and needs, this helps determine if its a cosmetic desire or if you truly know this will add value to your life and overall your health. Disclaimer, just because you purchased all the equipment to look the part, it does not mean the knowledge will follow in suit, or the experience. All of this will come in time and with your of refining from your individual experience apart from our own, as it should with a diversity of needs to match your personalized human design.
Evolved:
- Magic butter machine (more advanced tool for nut milks, herbal oil infusions, extracts, etc...)
- Breville food processor (bought ours re-furbished, top part is easily replaced when in-stock and affordable)
- Mortar and pestle (some people prefer a herb grinder and coffee grinder separately to avoid cross-contamination, but I just use a folk method, or clean out the grinder real nice prior to use some recommend rice)
- sprouting lids (BPA free plastic or the mesh metal-weaved versions are our favorite)
- quart jars to half-gallon and bigger (more the merrier)
- Dr. Bronner's bulk soap (the bigger you buy the cheaper it is, however please be sure to dilute any soap accordingly when purchased they are sold as concentrates rather than ready to use safe soap)
- water jugs 3-5 gallons BPA free or glass
- ceramic water spigot container (purchasing a stand is helpful, we'd recommend one that can hold 2-3 jugs for storage)
- stainless steel steamer (attachments are sold that can just sit over a pan with water or in a pot)
- tea straw, re-usable muslin bags or mesh tea strainer
- tea pot glass or ceramic with metal (stainless steel) strainer function
- spatula and ladle (bamboo or stainless steel)
- hand immersion blender (stainless steel) with variety of attachments
- Juicer (stainless steel)
- Meat grinder (stainless steel)
- cast iron skillet(s) (12.5 inch cooks about 2-3 servings of vegetables)
- dutch oven (ceramic or cast iron)
- silicone soap mold(s) (useful for pastries, raw treats and baked goodies, but can be substituted for pyrex containers)
- croc pot or large ceramic dutch oven for roasts
- chopsticks (great tools for decorating)
- kitchen scale (glass or stainless steel)
- food dehydrator (we have a Sedona, re-furbished)
- camping stove or single set burner
- knife sharpener
- thermometer (we use an old fashioned stick it and prick it, but there's digital options not certain if there's a quality difference)
- large gallon plus jars (fermentation, broths or storage)
- variety sizes of stainless steel strainers (local thrift shops come handy here)
- lemon squeezer (really, there is a difference between a hand-squeeze and this tool)
- cheese grater (if using for cheese, it's best to separate that one from your vegetables, unless its a multi-grater designate one side to cheese, one to beeswax and another to vegetables)
- hand nutmeg grater (for my baker's out there! this is a game changer)
