lovethesea, no appliance is worthwhile unless it is being used. So the question is, what kind of food person are you?
Do you eat simple foods like fresh fruits, vegetables and salads, or do you plan on making a lot of gourmet recipes?
So...
If you are planning on eating fresh fruits & salads:
~Good knife (I love Santolu and ceramic knives)
~Bamboo cutting board - 1 extra for garlic, onions and ginger
~Salad scissors
~Microplane or ginger grater
~Garlic press, I like Zyliss
~Magic Bullet, Tribest or other personal sized blender for dressings
If you are planning on making smoothies, soups & puddings:
~Good quality high speed blender, such as a Blendtec or Vitamix
If you are planning to make all kind of gourmet recipes:
~ 11 or more cup food processor. High end would be a KitchenAid, more affordable would be a Black and Decker or Hamilton Beach
~Food dehydrator, high end and dependable would be Excalibur, also it is best for breads and no 'hole' in the middle, more affordable round with hole in the middle brands could be found at Walmart, make sure there is a thermostat or it's no good.
~Veggie spiralizer for making zuchinni pasta - Joyce Chen Saladacco for angel hair size noodles, Spirooli for spaghetti size noodles
For Nut Milks
~ Blender and nut bags or paint strainer bags from a home improvement store
-or-
~ A soy milk maker that has the option to make raw nut milks without heat
For opening young cocounts
~ Large, heavy wide butcher's type knife with a strong corner - for whacking out the shell
~ strong paring knife - to help with prying the shell off
~ metal slotted serving spoon - for spooning out meat
~ I use a dead head mallot sometimes if the paring knife can't get through the shell - took out from hubby's toolbox and is now in my kitchen drawer, he's not thrilled, but I use it much more than he!
For soaking & sprouting seeds/nuts/grains
~Large bowls or mason or quart jars
~Cloth and rubberbands for covering jars
~Mesh strainer
For making nut yogurts and cheeses
~cheesecloth & string for straining and hanging
~ glass jars or containers