This page updated August 28, 2008
I don't have much shiny new cookware in my kitchen (pictured at right and below)-- I have a conglomeration of stuff I've collected over the years (one of my woks is over 30 years old!) and feel comfortable with. But I have some gadgets I'd hate to be without, and a few on my personal wish list!
Finding these items in your area;
Check your local kitchenware, gourmet, health food store or whatever first. There are some stores that specialize in grain mills, juicers, sprouters, etc-- they have lots of interesting equipment. Even catalogs like Sears have some of the items below (like hand blenders and grills).
If that fails, try the Internet. On this page, some of the items have a link to amazon.com, and I get a small commission if you buy the product from that particular link. Others have links to US and Canadian websites that sell that particular item. I get no commission from these links-- I'm just trying to help you find the items that I have faith in and use myself.
International buyers, check out amazon.ca and UK buyers amazon.co.uk, or do a search for "Bosch Universal Mixer" (or whatever the actual name of the product in question might be)--in quotation marks-- AND (use capital letters [upper case]) whatever country you live in. Example: Wondermill AND Denmark
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(The items are not listed in any particular kind of order, just as I think of them.)
Here's #1 on my list. I've had a Bosch for over 20 years and my husband makes 24-30 loaves of bread a week in ours. It is a great machine and I love the blender! It has a low design, so it easily fits under cupboards. See my machine in action here. PS: I DON'T SELL THIS MACHINE!
The picture below is the one I have, but you can only find these second-hand now. The new ones have a totally different design, but they are even more powerful!
The Bosch Universal Mixer :
"The world's finest kitchen machine is ideal for those who prepare foods with quality as well a quantity in mind. Renowned for quality craftsmanship and performance, Bosch provides the latest state-of-the-art design advances for the Universal. Your kitchen will be complete with this multi-function mixer and wide assortment of optional accessories and attachments. Superbly engineered to provide you with many years of service and cooking enjoyment."
About the new machine (pictured above):
"The all new MUM6 Universal PLUS has an appealing new design, increased power, larger capacity and outstanding performance. This new dramatically improved European design combines power and elegance with progressive technology and extreme longevity. It is trend setting in functionality and in appearance. Easy to control with ergonomic one-knob-operation and new optimal safety features through the special bowl and blender locking systems."
AND:
"Well after 20 years we finally see a new design to our wonderful Bosch Universal. The sleek new unique shape and more powerful motor plus many more new features make this machine worth waiting for. We were impressed with the easy way it went together as well as the smart new look and the great job it did on all tasks we tried with it. It still makes 4 loaves of 100% whole wheat bread and will whip anything from an egg white to a gallon of icing. The rim around the edge of the bowl makes it easy to pick the bowl up and the suction cups on the bottom and lock in base of the bowl, make is very stable when mixing/kneading small or really large quantities. The cleanup is easy as well, in the dishwasher and the inside steel shaft of the bowl lock off to clean inside as well if you wish. Bosch has sold this series of mixer since 1950 and its quality is renowned. They have a much higher than average lifetime for mixers in this class and a vary high customer satisfaction rating. Check out the features below:
Features!
800 watt motor with sealed transmission
6 1/2 qt. bowl will handle up to 15 lbs. of dough
4 speed settings + momentary switch
Removable steel drive shaft for easy bowl cleaning
Whisk holder is dishwasher safe
Ergonomic and easy to handle rim at the top of the bowl
Curved Splash ring which allows for extra volume
Dough hook is designed to replicate hand kneading-100% gluten development
Cord storage inside
Suction feet for a secure standing
Wide range of optional accessories (will take the same as a Universal)
Overload and start motor protection
Sealed oil transmission more than doubles the lifetime of the transmission
3 year motor/transmission warranty
THERE IS ALSO A VERSION WITHOUT THE BLENDER THAT IS CHEAPER!!
Canadian sources:
US sources:
You can often find this machine on websites and in stores that sell grain and grain mills, too, so look in your area. US customers will have no trouble finding online dealers that sell this machine-- just do a search for "Bosch Universal Mixer" and maybe you can find one near you. It's a little harder to find dealers in Canada, so the urls above may be useful.
YOU MAY BE ABLE TO FIND ONE SECOND HAND ON ONLINE AUCTIONS SITES, OR FROM A BOSCH DEALER. If you have a second hand Bosch, but no owner's manual, click here for an online version! No pictures, but it may help.
Also, I made PDF files out of my owner's manual for the machine, blender, slicer-shredder, and small whisk attachments, plus tips. I can email you the files if you need them.bryannasveganfeast@yahoo.com
(PS: I have no affiliation with the above websites and get no commission from them. BCG)
#1-A) The Vita-Mix Blender
NOTE: I like this machine so much that, despite vowing never to do this, I have decided to become a Vita-Mix Affiliate, so if you decide to try one out and you wouldn't mind me making a small percentage, click the logo to The Vita-Mix Blender Page or the Vita-Mix Canadian Page links. You'll also get free shipping this way!
The Vita-Mix Blender Page
The Vita-Mix Canadian Page (Canadian orders are shipped from the Toronto warehouse, so there are no customs problems!)
It took me along time-- many years-- to aquire a Vita-Mix, but I have been really thrilled with it! It's noisy, but not as annoyingly-noisy as the Oster blender I had, and, because it works so fast, you don't have to have it on as long as a regular blender. Tofu-nut mixtures are silky smooth, and puddings and pie fillings are more aerated and fluffy than those made in a food processor regular blender. My homemade low-fat vegan mayonnaise seems lighter, as well. The Vita-Mix can handle lots of ice, so making soy nogs and shakes and smoothies is super-easy. I like the "tamper", which helps push down thick mixtures and stir, if necessary, without ever hitting the blades!
Serious vegan cooks really need good machines. I keep mine out on my counter so that I can use them whenever necessary. The Vita-Mix is in a convenient place on my counter and always plugged in. It adds greatly to the diversity of your cooking, and I also like the fact that it blends so well that you can use the whole food, without peeling away any of the nutritional goodness.
#2) If you are interested in milling your own flour:
I have owned the Magic Mill III Plus Home Flour Mill, which you may be able to find on an online auction site, or secondhand, but is no longer being manufactured. However, if you have one of these machines and need parts for it, this Texas-based website still has parts! http://www.nutritionlifestyles.com/magic.htm
I made PDF files out of my owner's manual, etc., so I can email the files to you if you you get your hands on a Magic Mill III Plus without a manual. bryannasveganfeast@yahoo.com
I NOW OWN A WONDERMILL:
Review on my blog. (Pictures, too!)
Find a dealer (in five countries-- USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand)
NOTE: Grain mills are often sold in stores and on websites that sell sprouting and juicing equipment.
(PS: I have no affiliation with the above websites and get no commission from them. BCG)
#3) Home Soymilk Maker:
RECOMMENDED SOYMILK MAKER:
The"SoyQuick"-- formerly the "Soylife" (the packaging is now updated and made from recycled materials)
I have a SoyQuick. soymilk maker (it used to be called Soylife) It's a Canadian company, but they ship to the US with free shipping and no duty!
US customers: To order straight from the company, or to find out more about US retailers, call customer service at 1-888-769-5433 Mon. - Fri. 8:30 to 4:30 PT.
Canadian customers: find a long list of Canadian retailers here.
I love this machine! I make 4-6 batches of great soymilk a week in it, and have had no problems! Read a review of soymilk makers from the Vancouver Island Vegetarian Association (VIVA) here.
The SoyQuick (formerly Soylife) has been tested and certified by Underwriters Laboratory Inc. This means that it meets the highest operational and safety standards in both Canada and the United States.
NEW FILTER-LESS MACHINE!
THERE IS A NEW, IMPROVED SOYQUICK, THE SoyQuick Premier Milk Maker 930P This machine has no messy filter to clean and it can make a thicker soymilk, with more beans, with NO burning!
This photo shows the blade-protector, which is a cinch to clean-- no more filter clogging!
I HAVE REVISED MY SOYMILK RECIPE USING THIS NEW MACHINE! See recipe on this page.
Because you can use a larger amount of beans without burning the milk, you can make ultra-creamy soymilk with this new Soyquick machine!
(PS: I have no affiliation with the above websites and get no commission from them. BCG)
#4.) CUISINART BRICK OVEN
I bought this little oven (Cuisinart BRK-200) to make pizza because my stove oven didn't do a good enough job.
Well, it is FABULOUS for pizza-- there is a removeable stone that you can bake pizza or bread directly, plus stone inserts on either side. The temperature goes up to 500 degrees F, and there is also convection and broiling. But we also use it daily for casseroles, brownies, roasting vegetables and browning, tofu, etc. It's great for small batches of bread, cake and cookies, as well as baking pita and naan bread.
See review on my blog!
In Canada, London Drugs sells the oven!
#5) INDOOR GRILL
Some friends and fellow cooks highly recommend the Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler--
#6) Braun MR430HC/AC Multiquick Deluxe Hand Blender & Chopper
If you want a more powerful version, this one gets rave reviews:
Braun MR5550MBC-HC Multiquick Professional Hand Blender
#7) Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Ice Cream Maker
"What's better than a quart of luscious homemade ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt? Two quarts! The fully automatic Cuisinart® Pure Indulgence™ makes 2 quarts of your favorite frozen desserts or drinks in as little as 25 minutes. It's easy - an integrated motor, double-insulated freezer bowl and automatic mixing paddle do all the work. Results are consistently smooth, cleanup is easy, and the brushed stainless styling is simply sensational. See review on my blog.
Product Features:
2-quart capacity
Brushed stainless steel housing with embossed logo
Fully automatic - add ingredients and turn machine on
Makes all of your favorite frozen desserts or drinks in as little as 25 minutes
Large spout to add all of your favorite mix-ins
Removable mixing paddle and freezer bowl for easy cleanup
Instruction/Recipe Book included
Limited 3-year warranty" It's widely available in the US, online and in stores. In Canada, I ordered it from this outlet in Vancouver, BC.
What else can I say? A picture is worth a thousand words... All of the following made in this machine:
Bumbleberry Merlot Sorbet
Vegan Triple Chocolate Hemp Gelato Vegan Maple Butter Pecan
Green Tea and Kiwi Sorbetto and Chocolate-Orange Sorbetto.. both recipes posted on my blog here.
