This is your HOW TO page (in the making) that will be full of tips and tricks to live whole food plant based and love it!
THE KITCHEN BASICS
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HIGH SPEED BLENDER (Vitamix, Blendtec, Ninja, Nutribullet)
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FOOD PROCESSOR (Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart, Ninja)
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MASON JARS (32oz, 20oz, 16oz, 8oz, 4oz, 2oz) Stock up on several sizes great for juicing and storing prepared foods. Available at Target.
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JUICER (Masticating or Centrifigal) Both Omega and Breville make amazing juicers. See juicing recipes for details)
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LEMON/LIME SQUEEZER
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GARLIC PRESS
Every change of lifestyle has basic elements that become the foundation to thrive. And eating whole-food Plant-based and Raw is no different. It begins with kitchen equipment and food staples that need to always be readily available.
Kitchen Staples
NUTS: Always have Cashews, Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds and Pine nuts on hand. You can make Milk with them, cheeses and cheese sauce, cookies, cheesecakes (yum), salad dressings, pates, meatballs and taco meat! I buy in bulk Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds and Pine Nuts from Costco--they have great prices. 365 Raw Cashews are only 8.99 LB compared to 12.99 bulk. You can also order online in bulk. Nuts can be expensive so make sure to make them a part of your food budget and buy them as staples.
SEEDS: Seeds are full of amino's, fiber, and protein. They are a staple for making incredible mock salads such as Tuna and Chicken Salad, Pates, Pancakes, breakfast puddings, oatmeal, burgers, nut loafs, and more. I always keep Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Seseme Seeds, and Sunflower Seeds, on hand. In addition to individual seeds, I combine all the seeds in the food processer to create a seven seed blend that can be added to everything from smoothies to pancakes.
DATES: When you go off sugar you need a delicious replacement and dates are it. So many wonderful raw recipes require dates and because they are packed with nutrition and both diabetic and weight loss friendly. I buy Medjool dates at Costco. 8.99 for two pounds verse 8.99 for 1 LB in many stores. There are also Tunisian dates which are less expensive and good for snaking.
COCONUT OIL (ORGANIC): Butter and Carcinogenic fats need to go with a whole-food plant-based lifestyle. No more cooking with Vegetable or Canola oils. Olive oil is still good for cooking. But Coconut Oil is great for cooking, adding a buttery flavor to foods, and making amazing sauces.