Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook (12 page)

COLANDER
.
Perfect for draining steamed vegetables and pastas and for rinsing berries or beans.

COOKIE SHEETS
.
For baking healthy whole-grain cookies.

COOLING RACKS
.
For cooling baked goods.

CROCK-POT OR SLOW COOKER
.
A great appliance for making soups, stews, and casseroles. Just add all the ingredients, turn it on, and forget about it!

CUTTING BOARD
.
You will get a lot of use out of this kitchen staple. Choose wood or plastic, depending on your preference. On a plant-based diet there is no need for concern about cross-contamination among raw foods.

FOOD PROCESSOR
.
Absolutely essential for making dips, dressings, spreads, sauces, and other thicker-consistency condiments.

GLASS BOWLS
.
For mixing ingredients for baking, marinades, salsas, and so on. Those with lids are also convenient for storage.

GLASS COUNTERTOP CANISTERS WITH LIDS
.
For storing everything from flour to dried beans.

IMMERSION BLENDER
.
This is a handy tool for making creamy soups or blending hot liquids right in the pot. You can blend ingredients without the extra mess or danger of transferring hot soup in batches between the pot and a conventional blender.

KNIVES
.
You really only need one good long knife—find one that you really like, and keep it sharp. You’ll also want a small paring knife and a short, serrated knife—these are key for cutting avocados, mangoes, and other whole foods that require some dexterity.

MANDOLINE
.
Not essential, but very useful for thinly slicing vegetables. Many mandolines have multiple settings for different thicknesses and cuts. But be careful—mandoline blades are extremely sharp and unforgiving, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions and be sure to use safety guards and other mechanisms designed to ensure that food gets sliced, not fingers.

MEASURING CUPS AND SPOONS
.
You will want the following sizes for measuring dry goods: ¼ cup,
⅓
cup, and ½ cup. You will also want a 1-cup, as well as a
2- or 4-cup glass measuring cup with a spout, for liquids. Convenient sizes for measuring spoons are: ¼ teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, and 1 tablespoon.