Paring knife
*Also see “Stocking Your Pantry” on page 348.
How to Make a Double Boiler: If you don’t own a
double boiler, I don’t see any reason to buy one! A
double boiler is a saucepan with a detachable upper
compartment. When you boil water in the saucepan,
it heats up whatever is in the upper compartment. I
mainly use a double boiler for melting chocolate, and
this can be done just as easily by stacking a stainless
steel or heat-proof glass bowl on top of the saucepan.
You want the bowl to be just a few inches wider than
the saucepan. With a real-deal or makeshift double
boiler, don’t let the boiling water touch the bottom of
the upper compartment or bowl.
High-Powered Blender: When I reference “high-
powered blender,” I am referring to a Vitamix,
Blendtec, or any blender that can easily blend ice,
nuts, or other hard ingredients.
Tips for Specific Ingredients
Pitting an Avocado: Carefully poke the avocado
where it is widest with a sharp knife, until it hits
the pit. Drag the tip of the knife down and turn the
avocado with your hand so that you are creating
one long cut all the way around. Remove the knife
and twist the two halves in opposite directions to
open the avocado. Hold the half that contains the pit
face-up in the palm of your nondominant hand. With
your dominant hand, hit the pit with the knife edge,
just hard enough to stick. Be very careful. Twist the
avocado and knife in opposite directions. The pit
should pop out. Hit the knife gently against a cutting
board to remove the pit.
Making a Chia Egg: Some recipes note that you
can substitute a “chia egg” for a regular egg. To make
a chia egg, combine 1 tablespoon chia seeds and 3
tablespoons water in a small mixing bowl. Whisk
and allow to sit at room temperature for 12 to 15
minutes. Stir again; it should have formed a gel-like
consistency. If not, let it sit for another few minutes.