My Fav Kitchen Tools

Microwave Rice Cooker: I got this for about 5 bucks at Wal-Mart, and it has been a life saver over the summer. I hate heating up the stove unnecessarily when the air conditioner is running: it wastes energy. In about 7 minutes, this little baby cooks a cup of Jasmine Rice to perfection. It works for brown rice too, just takes a bit longer.

Whisk: can't live without it to make great emulsions such as homemade vinaigrette or tahini-lemon salad dressings: the whisk ensures a very smooth, no-lumps product.

Enameled cast iron skillet: I got mine from an overstock store for a very good price. I like it because it is non-stick (and does not lose its coating unlike standard teflon pieces) and because it is very efficient at retaining heat. This is wonderful for creating fritattas, which are fun to make with eggs and tofu, adding whatever you happen to have in your pantry: I usually add roasted potatoes (regular as well as sweet potatoes work well), broccoli or cauliflour, frozen peas, fresh or drained canned tomaoes, and cheese. I microwave the vegetables and drain them, mix up a couple of eggs and mashed regular tofu, with seasonings, throw everything in the skillet, add cheese, and cook for a few minutes on top of the stove. Then I put it under the broiler for 5 minutes and it comes out great! Serve with a side salad and some nice artisan bread, and it's a feast!

My hand blender: this little gadget is terrific for making fruit smoothies as well as other jobs you would normally need a regular blender for. It's cheap and doesn't take up much space, and it's a cinch to clean up.