An example knife.rb file for those getting started with Chef.

knife.rb

current_dir = File.dirname(__FILE__)
log_level                :info
log_location             STDOUT
node_name                'MY_USER_ON_CHEF_SERVER'
client_key               "#{current_dir}/MY_USER_ON_CHEF_SERVER.pem"
validation_client_name   'CHEF-VALIDATOR'
validation_key           "#{current_dir}/CHEF-VALIDATOR.pem"
chef_server_url          'https://URL'
syntax_check_cache_path  "#{current_dir}/syntax_check_cache"

cache_type               'BasicFile'
cache_options( :path => "#{ENV['HOME']}/.chef/checksums" )
cookbook_path            ["#{current_dir}/../cookbooks"]
cookbook_copyright       "COMPANY"
cookbook_email           "SYSADMIN@COMPANY.com"
readme_format            "md"
encrypted_data_bag_secret "#{current_dir}/encrypted_data_bag_secret"

# AWS Credentials
#knife[:aws_ssh_key_id] = "KEY"
#knife[:region] = "REGION"
#knife[:aws_access_key_id] = "#{ENV['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID']}"
#knife[:aws_secret_access_key] = "#{ENV['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY']}"