Room for milk, a chicken, and a couple 6-packs. Good storage on the door and an ice-box for cubes or the occasional bag of frozen spinach. It is important to have a unit that is quiet-ish. While none of the mini units are silent, you don't want a unit that "slams" when the compressor switches off.

Large capacity that fits in a small space. This toaster oven heats quickly and cools quickly with easy controls in just the right place. From 12" pizza to a small roast, you have many options in a tiny, well thought out unit. Out of stock as of 9/2007, you will want to find it elsewhere.

This is the one i grew up with. When i left home i tried a few others, all of which failed eventually. My mom is still using her Osterizer and so am I. No plastic. All chrome and glass. Crushing ice? No problem (except for the noise that will wake the dead.)

Flexible nesting bowls that can be pinched to pour into smaller bowls and pots. Silicone is microwave safe.

This knife beat all the others reviewed by Chef's Illustrated magazine, most of which are 5X the price. For $20-ish, this is another easy decision. Keep it sharp, though. Get a sharpening steel. This and a paring knife are all you will need.

I like a longer steel, but we are on a budget, so grab this one and after you get it out of the box use it! ...all the time.

You will find this useful for pasta, soup, and steaming larger quantities of veggies. 8 qt. is a fine size for a hot plate or a small kitchen.