Mordechai's Profile
MimicCreme
From their web site:
Q. Does MimicCreme whip?
A. Although our present MimicCreme versions will not whip, we are planning on a future release of a new product, which will be called "HEALTY TOP"™. Healthy Top (tm) will be a whip-able, non-dairy cream based on almonds and cashews, (just like our regular MimicCreme). Look for Healthy Top in the spring of 2009!
http://mimiccreme.com/faqs.html
Considering it's mid-August and they aren't listing it amongst their products, Spring 2009 just may be slightly optimistic.
Parve Unsweetened Chocolate
I've seen Bakers, but it said "Dairy" not "DE"; Ghiradelli was Kof-K Dairy.
"Yes, essentially parve, but the dairy equipment designation does limit the kosher cook in some ways."
As you point out, though, DE is less than ideal.
Parve Unsweetened Chocolate
All the brands of unsweetened chocolate I've found are marked as dairy. Any suggestions for one which is parve?
Kosher Wine Store in Boro Park or Midwood
Schnapps at 404 Ave. M has good prices and a good selection. They usually offer discounts when buying by the case.
Ultimate Kitchen
Once you start doubling up for Passover, you might just as well have a whole second kitchen. I know people who do have a second kitchen for Passover, though a scaled down one.
Must Haves for Newly Kosher Kitchen
Much depends on your cooking style and how you approach cooking in general. Is cooking for you primarily a chore (even if you also enjoy it) or a passion? Do you expect to cook a lot of both dairy and meat? For how many do you intend to cook for (I know people who have over 15 guest every Shabbos and Yom Tov)? Personally, I like to keep as much as practical parve. (As a side note, parve food cooked in a clean dairy or meat pot will remain parve except in terms of what utensils you can use and what food you can eat with it. Ask your rabbi for details.)
Some items tend to lend themselves one way or another. A large stock pot will probably be only meat, while non-stick will only be dairy (and maybe parve).
Lastly, let's not forget additional set of sets for Passover. For Passover, though, I would go light, unless you'll be hosting.
