I learned a long time ago, that being married to Jay Kordich was like trying to harness a hurricaine with a deck of cards as a house. Impossible!
But with time, I soon realized, there was indeed calm inside of that Jay Kordich hurricaine, and managed to work my way through the inside of his crazy (but really fun) world.
Thus, the evolution and manifestation of what I like to call Our Living Kitchen began.
The first question we always ask ourselves as women, or as the manager of the kitchen and cooking, is…..how do I get into the kitchen and out of the kitchen in the fastest period of time with the littlest amount of work and mess?
It’s inevitable to harbour these thoughts because managing and maintaining a clean and efficient kitchen is something we have to do everyday…..everyday…...everyday. And for those who are just learning how to maintain and build a natural food lifestyle with juicing as a daily habit are really in for a big surprise, because it can be a very messy and challenging experience.
But, as I said, if I can manage Jay’s hurricaine lifestyle, with carrots flying everywhere and fruit peels in strange places, then I know I can do anything!
So, how does one manage a living kitchen with ease, organizataion and a sense of gratitude and relaxation?
First, let me say there are two parts to Our Living Kitchen. Kitchens are like computers. Computers come with hardware and software. One cannot live without the other effectively. Same with our living kitchen.
Today I am only going to talk about the mundane parts, the parts that are easy to change and add to your kitchen, which is the hardware part of the kitchen. The second part, which is the software is delicate, etherial and takes more time than I have today to discuss the importance, the ‘long lasting’ importance of building your living kitchen.
But first things first:
In our living kitchen at home Jay and I have evolved over the years to keep only the appliances that support living health. So, first I say, take an entire afternoon or day if you have to do the following:
1. Clean, clean and clean! Clean your kitchen from top to bottom and get rid of duplicate utensils, plastic duplicates for storage, organize your pantry and clean out your refrigerator completely. I will get more into this when I write another blog about the software part of our living kitchen.
2. Make sure to place the appliances you use daily on the counter. Juicer/Blender/Dehydrator or sprouter.
3. Take a look at your cookware. What kind do you have? If you have any teflon, coated cookware, get rid of it, as there is so much evidence that should discourage you from ever using them again, they are toxic!
The following cookware is acceptable:
stainless steel cookware (18/10 or better)
le cruset cookware without the teflon and special coating that is non stock
glass cookware, but it burns foods easily so be careful
bamboo steamware (but make sure to always sanitize it thoroughly with each use)
stainless steamware
stainless steel pressure cookers
4. Appliances. How many tools and appliances do you have that seem safe? If you have the following, we say get rid of them
*aluminum cookware of any kind
*coffee makers
*rice cooker with teflon coating
*rotisseries or roasters/deep fat fryers
*microwave
*teflon coated cookware or any kind of coated cookware
*frying pans
*anodized aluminum cookware
*dishes containing lead
*barbecues
*microwavable containers
*plastic cookware and plastic appliances such as steamers.
I know what some of you may be thinking……yikes! That could be everything you own, but if it is, just remove the top five for now and slowly replace them with the appliances we see as more compatible with a living foods lifestyle. Some of you reading this many not have any of these or some of you may have some. It’s a general rule that none of these appliances support living health whatsoever, so eventually they all must go!
We use stainless steel waterless cookware at home when Jay and I eat cooked foods. Our diet consists of about 30% cooked foods, depending on the time of the year, and in the summertime we usually bring it down to about 15% cooked. We also use a pressure cooker for our grains, but before we eat any grain, we soak them overnight in purified water, then rinse them, then cook them. This helps our digestion regarding absorption of the nutrients from the grains.
Here is a list of our living kitchen appliances: (most importance to least importance)
1. Stainless steel juicer
2. Stainless steel or glass high powered blender such as Blend-Tec or vita-mix (although I’m not thrilled about the bottom not being able to be screwed off to clean)
3. Wheatgrass juicer (we like that little hand one even though it is not stainless, it’s a hand cranked wheatgrass juicer, and it is reasonable in price: $40.00 and works effectively.
4. Automatic sprouter (we like the Freshlife) or just a regular sprouter to grow and raise various types of sprouts such as: adzuki beans, alfalfa, sunflower, mung.
5. Dehydrator (we have the excalibur)
6. Food processor either large or small. We keep our small one on hand due to home-made dressings
7. Stainless steel cookware (18/10) and preferably waterless.
8. Saladaccio (for spiralizing veggies)
9. Nut and seed grinder
10. Cheesecloth for straining nut milks
11. Electric teapot
12. Hand made tofu maker (from Japan)
13. Stainless pressure cooker
14. Professional grade knives (most are good if you keep them sharp)
15. Paring knife to peel oranges, grapefruits, etc.,.
16. Salad spinner for salads
17. glass jars for storing home made salad dressings and/or pate’s and/or nutmilks.
It may take you some time to build your own living kitchen, but this is an example of what Jay and I have built over the years and has served us well. We have found that when you surround yourself with appliances that support living health, then you are more likely than not, to feel the ease and motivation to prepare more and more vital, living and healthy foods.
In my next blog, i will write extensively about how to build your own living kitchen from your heart, rather than from your head. Learning to love your kitchen is the key, by creating a special, sacred space in order to create a loving, living environment.
The best news of all, is that in the second part of Our Living Kitchen it does not cost one penny, but will help you find the virtuous ways of being and living in your own beautiful new, living kitchen.