Atlanta Macrobiotics

Atlanta-Macrobiotics Cooking Class Series with Marsha Rueff          2010

As we enjoying this late Indian summer, now’s the perfect time to recreate delicious opportunities for yourself as we approach Fall’s cooler days. Designed to enhance your well-being, with scrumptious, health-enhancing vegan recipes ‘n savory suggestions – these Macrobiotic Cooking Classes will guide your health to an all-time highest level. Just like you’ve been reading in Alisha Silverstone’s The Kind Diet!

Our wish: you attaining optimal health & energy accomplishing your 2010 dreams as we near this year’s end, anticipating a great 2011!

Call to  join these  engaging cooking ‘n lifestyle  changing classes! All based on preparing foods according to Macrobiotic principals, including no dairy, eggs, meat or poultry and sugar. Feel better already?? The savory dishes feature organic produce and the highest quality Mitoku Macrobiotic ingredients. Perfect recipes for football parties & other fun pot-luck dinners, and an amazing Vegan Thanksgiving! Your dishes will be the talk-of-the-town! And the Thanksgiving Class in late October gives you plenty of time to practice at home in your own kitchen, as well as shop for your ingredients and utensils! Easy as pie! So start compiling your guest list, because you’ll be excited to share these menus with everyone in your world!

All classes: 1-4 PM                                 Cost per class          $45

Saturday, Sept. 25                          Mama Mia! Let’s Eat Italian ~ Ciao Bella!

Saturday, October 9                      Mexican Fiesta, Ole!

Saturday, October 30                   Holiday Cooking, A Macrobiotic & Vegan Thanksgiving Feast!

Hope to see you! Early registration is greatly appreciated.

RSVP: marsharueff@mac.com phone: 770.396.9413    cell:678.643.5662

With limited seating, your check reserves your space.

Send to Marsha Rueff, 1130 Trailridge Lane, Dunwoody, GA 30338

**Private Macrobiotic Cooking Classes available, designed just for YOU!

**Providing Macrobiotic Meals to Go!

Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner

A Special Macrobiotic Cooking Class

Saturday, February 6 1-4 pm $45

Valentine’s Day is just 2 weeks away,

& you’d like to share a romantic evening with your special love!

Even if dining out Valentine’s evening,

you can delight your palates with these

heavenly tastes sometime leading up to the weekend!

Or surprise!

Serve a Valentine Brunch!

*Menu*

Red Lentil Soup

Wild About Rice Salad

Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Walnut Apple Carrot Salad

Chocolate Mousse *Strawberry Mousse

Red Zinger Tea with Apple Juice

or open your favorite Red Wine

Hmmm, not exactly what you’d expect in Macrobiotic Cooking?

This is the party food of the equation, that 5-10% social eating,

EWEYW: eat whatever you want!

The balance you seek: A little over-the-top menu for a special occasion!

We simplify the menu for those concerned. keeping the meal very satisfying.

All organic, highest quality ingredients are prepared in class,

& offer you resources to enjoy the same!

Join and Enjoy!

At the home of Marsha and Fred Rueff

1130 Trailridge Lane

Dunwoody, Georgia 30338

Please RSVP asap! Your check holds your spot!

Hurry, space is limited!

Yes, Virginia, there are vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies and 119 other Sweet and Natural desserts, thanks to Meredith McCarty’s writing her wonderful cookbook! Titled, Sweet and Natural, of course! You’ll enjoy nostalgic holiday tastes this Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy New Year, and you have plenty of time to try the best treats for your own special Valentine too! So, let’s get this one started so you have a delish-ious soft, healthier chocolate chip cookie for your Christmas cookie holiday swap! I’ve taught lots of variations in my macrobiotic cooking classes, always to great delight! Add whatever else you enjoy to yours! I tried it with hazelnuts, coconut, and pecans too! For tonight I used only unbleached white flour and pecans – what do you want to try? Most important, just enjoy and share!! Maybe even try a Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake too!

Chocolate Chip Cookies,

thanks to Meredith McCarty, Sweet and Natural cookbook

Preheat oven – 350 degrees. Remember, organic ingredients enhances tastes!

dry ingredients

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup unbleached white flour

1 cup malt-sweetened Sunspire non-organic chocolate chips*

1/2 cup walnuts, rinsed, then toasted, and chopped

1 teaslpoon aluminum-free baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon si salt, sea salt, Kushi Institute Store

wet ingredients

1/2 cup light vegetable oil such as walnut, or safflower

1/4 cup brown rice syrup, Suzanne’s, Natural Import Company, NC

1/4 cup pure maple syrup, Grade B is for baking!

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

Now let’s make these cookies dance onto that cookie sheet!

Your oven’s preheated to 350 degrees. Now line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly brush with oil. I prefer the stoneware bake sheets to metal ones.

Mix dry ingredients in large glass bowl,

Whisk wet ingredients in medium glass bowl, and stir into dry ingredients.

Want medium-size cookies? Use a small ice-cream scoop about 1 1/4 inch diameter, leaving 1-2 inches between cookies.

Bake 12-15 minutes for small cookies, or 15-20 minutes for large cookies.

My gas oven takes 20 minutes for smallish cookies. And they are delish.

*Sunspire – in this case, we do not select the organic because the organic is sweetened with organice sugar;

the non-organic is the one sweetened with barley malt. The company got this one backwards!

Did you grow up on Noodle Kugels for every holiday! I did, and what’s Chanukah s’pose to tastelike when you’re vegan? Well, try this recipe, created by Harriet McNear, beloved macrobiotic teacher, in Winter Park, Florida. You most likely will want to add your own family flavor too. Isn’t that what the holidays are all about – as we remember our childhood romping with siblings and cousins, opening gifts, sharing, our beloved parents and grandparents. A favorite in our holiday macrobiotic cooking classes,  Atlanta Macrobiotic Pot Luck dinners, and I think you’ll enjoy it too! Happy Chanukah! And remember it for New Years, make it with matzo this Passover, and you’re all set for Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur too! Happy Holidays!

Apple Noodle Kugel with Crumb Topping

Heat oven to 325 degrees                  Bake 30 minutes

8 ounce wide noodles Deboles or BioNature                                                           Topping:

Corn oil (to oil casserole)                                                                                                8 Westbrae Lemon Cookies*

10 ounce mori nu soft tofu, or other tofu as you wish

2 golden delicious apples, sliced

1-2 teaspoons lemon zest

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup rice syrup

3/4 cup raisins

2 teaspoons cinnamon (or less)

1. Cook noodles about half the time you ordinarily would, 4-6 minutes.

2. Place in bowl with all ingredients, except topping ingredients.

3. Mix together and place in large oiled casserole.

4. Place cookies in blender and pulse to make crumbs.  Sprinkle over top of noodle mixture.

5. Bake 325 degrees 30 minutes or until top is crisp and light brown.

6. Let cool about 15 minutes,

7. Then cut into squares and serve.

For topping* can also use Heaven Scent Windmill Cookie, Almond or Traditional Spice

Dickens hit it right on with taking Scrooge back through past Christmases! Exactly what we all do every holiday reminiscing our loved ones, and longing for the familiar family cuisine, whatever our mothers, grandmothers, aunts and loved ones cooked! I can still savor the delicious chocolate cakes from my beloved Grandmother Esther, and Mother’s Chocolate Lady Finger Cake, which became my neighborhood’s favorite too, til I became vegan and macrobiotic cooking our new lifestyle!

Still, holiday and party food can be a wonderful way to enjoy these past memories, and thanks to some wonderful cooks and their cookbooks, we have healthier ways to accomplish some traditional foods! Just this week I was on a Coconut Lemon Pie search - my mother’s absolute favorite and I found this wonderful recipe in Love, Eric by Eric Lechasseur. Please hurry to order this book, as they are stopping print as we speak!

It cut beautifully, and firmed quickly. I changed the crust to 3/4 cup Pastry flour and 1 cup unbleached flour being without Spelt flour, and not being able to wait one more minute! And, please, use organic ingredients for best flavors. We always use organic both at home and in our Macrobiotic cooking classes in Atlanta, and the results as they say are in the pudding! Enjoy.

Pie crust

1 cup spelt flour

3/4 cup unbleached flour

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/3 cup maple sugar

1/3 cup safflower oil

1/4 cup water

Let’s make the pie crust!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine dry ingredients in large bowl.

Add oil and water; knead quickly, forming dough.

Allow dough to sit 15 minutes! Yep, i time it!

Rolling pin and 2 pieces of wax paper, roll dough in circle to fit your 9-11 inch pie pan, or flan pop-up pan is what i prefer! William Sonoma

I like a really thin crust, no more than 1/4 inch, and even less!

Gently line pie pan with your crust and bake 20 minutes, maybe 25.

Remove from oven and let it cool.

***

Filling ingredients

1 cup plain Amasake, Rhapsody, from Vermont

1 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup brown rice syrup, Suzanne’s

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

zest of 1 lemon

2 1/2 Tablespoon agar flakes

4 Tablespoon arrowroot

1/4 cup organic apple juice, not Gravenstein

extra lemon zest for garnish

and of course, coconut flakes for the yumminess of it all!

***

Now, it’s make a wonderful lemon filling time! So, turn on your favorite dance music!

Let’s whisk away to the music!

Combine all ingredients, except arrowroot and apple juice in saucepan.

Bring to simmer, whisking constantly, and cook 8 minutes! Whisk to the music!!

In small bowl, combine arrowroot and apple juice, then whisk into the lemon filling.

Continue cooking, whisking and dancing a few more minutes.

Remove from flame and let slightly cool.

Pour filling into your beautifully baked pie shell. Garnish with zest & coconut flakes

Refrigerate ’til firm.

Enjoy. i just had one more little slice to make sure it’s really delish! It is…..

Let me tell you about our daughter Karyn. When our granddaughter, Brittany, was 18 months old, Karyn called me saying, I just gave Brittany her first macrobiotic cooking lesson! She cut the vegetables, stirred the food, measured the water, added the rice, and made gomashio!

Music to my ears. With all the love we have for our children and grandchildren, it’s so gratifying to know they are choosing healthy foods and lifestyle. And even teaching the next generation when kids adore playing in the kitchen with mommy! When it’s fun!

Karyn’s pantry and fridge contains all the foods on a macrobiotic diet, plus some traditional items for company. And her children know the difference. When Brittany was about 2 she declared in a children’s music group her favorite food was TOFU! All the other children claimed french fries, chicken wings or pizza. Macrobiotic food, as you learn in macrobiotic cooking classes, is very tasty, and kids love that genuine taste and aroma. It smells so good is a familiar comment in a macrobiotic kitchen.

Brittany and her sister Alyssa often participate in meal preparation, and even help select recipes, browsing macrobiotic cookbooks for some new, yummy dish. They have taken many Whole Foods cooking classes for kids, even the week-long summer camp. They assisted in these classes as well. At age 10 Brittany and Alyssa have each assisted during Warren Kramer’s cooking classes at our home, truly contributing. Kids love to help, and teaching them cooking skills while they are young and helping is fun for them is the key!

So what macrobiotic dishes are perfect kid-starters? Scrambled tofu – you get to scrunch up the tofu in your hands, and chop the veggies. Mochi waffles with Suzanne’s Maple Rice Syrup. Tempeh and seitan, deep-fried! Pasta salads with pickles and olives, blanched veggies, and yummy dressing. Kanten fruit desserts blended into a strawberry mousse or orange soufflé. Creamy pureed vegetable soups without the cream. Nori rolls with almond butter, cucumbers and whatever else your kids like. Fried fish, hummus dip and crunchy veggies. Tempura everything! Parsley’s the best, broccoli and other greens, even nori rolls. Kids love stirring the batters, and let them be inventive! Even if you are on a stricter diet, they might add coconut or healthy rice crispies to roll the battered seitan and what a treat you have!

You’ll want to buy the tiny iwachu iron pot for the deep frying, and sometimes we just keep ours on the stove. You can order this pot from Essene in Philadelphia by calling:  215 . 922 . 1146.  Sometimes you may have to describe the pot: it’s round with an iron handle, and wood lid, costing approximately $49 plus shipping. You definitely want the small size which allows you to use less oil.

Kid’s school lunches! Let ‘em look like everyone else. Sandwich, fruit, noodles, hummus and blanched veg, nori roll if they are comfortable with it. With all the sushi and nori rolls prepared at the grocers today, this macrobiotic favorite way of carrying rice and veggies might be the in thing.  And when they get home have a hearty dish to tide them over for dinner. Leftover warm soup & steamed sourdough bread may be very welcome on a cold afternoon. Or if you drive them directly to an activity, bring a favorite dish in the car. Pasta and sauce, fried tofu, warm apple juice, fried seitan, thermos of warm bancha tea. Let them request!

And making meals easier for your new attendees! Sometimes your youngsters get inquistive, asking what’s for dinner? I always just answer dinner. Especially if your kids show any resistance. Learn their favorites, and include them often!

Relax, have fun with the macrobiotic foods and let your kids have a fun ride on your new regime for health. Everyone benefits in the long run, and what wonderful peace of mind, knowing your children have the best quality food, and healthy horizons ahead! That’s Everything!

Great macrobiotic books for families with kids:

The Macrobiotic Community Cookbook, by Andrea Bliss Lerman features kids favorites made in the macrobiotic cooking style: pizza, stoganoff, lasagne, burrito, millet-cauliflower mashed potatoes that make perfect potato pancakes, without any potatoes at all. And lots more.

Sweet and Natural, by Meredith McCarty features 120 desserts without sugar, eggs, butter, cream and yeast. Pies, tarts, cakes, cookies – everyone delights in these recipes.

Grains and Greens from the Deep Blue Sea, by Mark Hanna and Sandy Purkel features recipes from the Macrobiotic Cruise. Each one becomes your new favorite! So get ready to try them all! The Millet Croquets taste just like tuna fish, and the tartar sauce is amazing! The desserts are wow! Can this really be good for us! Yes indeedy!

Cooklets by Melanie Waxman. All Melanie’s recipes are terrific, and you might want to get the complete bound issue. Having seven children of her own, Melanie has excellent recipes for children in Cooking for Children section, and throughout all the cooklets! Try the Soba Knots in Oodles of Noodles! With 7 children of her own, Melanie is the expert  keeping kids interested in their health eats!

Cooking the Whole Foods Way, by Christina Pirello. Delish cuisine, kids will enjoy & request their favorites!

Cook Your Food to the Life You Want, by Christina Pirello. Christina Pirello’s recipe books are quite excellent, as she has taken traditional European recipes and perfected the macrobiotic conversion for you.  Amazing variety to delight all your family!

Serves 2

Benefits: to relax and fulfill sweet cravings.

Less fruit is better, and sometimes none is best. This recipe adds kuzu which helps soothe digestion of fruits simple sugars, giving the dessert an apple pie consistency, reminiscent of Grandma’s!

• 1–2 Granny Smith Apples, sliced Pinch si sea salt
• 3/4 cup apple juice +1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon dissolved in 1/3 cup cold water

1. Place apple slices in small enamel coated cast iron pot.
2. Add diluted apple juice, and sea salt; cover and bring to boil over medium low flame, 7-10 minutes.
3. Stir in dissolved kuzu, thickening the mixture to consistency of apple pie filling.

Enjoy while warm.

Enjoying A Macrobiotic Meal

MACROBIOTIC DIET PRIMERS

Recommended by Marsha Rueff, Macrobiotic Educator

These titles provide a digestible overview to cooking the Macrobiotic Diet. These books gently present background and information regarding a macrobiotic way of health, thoughtfully and practically. Of course, the pages are filled with delectable recipes.

Please note, however, the macrobiotic diet never was meant to be learned from books. To understand and know how to prepare the foods for the best results, hands’-on cooking lessons are recommended. Macrobiotics was always meant to be shown & shared.

• The Macrobiotic Path to Total Health, by Michio Kushi and Alex Jack. Since starting macrobiotics, I’ve longed for a macro encyclopedia! This it IT! Up-dated info on just about every health condition, menus, recipes & home remedies. A must for every home.
• The Self-Healing Cookbook: A Macrobiotic Primer for Healing Body, Mind and Moods With Whole Natural Foods, by Kristina Turner. User-friendly with sketches & explanations!
• The Complete Guide to Macrobiotic Cooking, by Aveline Kushi. Comprehensive book from the “Shakespeare” of macrobiotics, Aveline describes growing up in Japan and the foundation for macrobiotics. Recipes for everything – you can always rely on this “bible” of macro cooking.
• The Macrobiotic Community Cookbook, by Andrea Lerman & Vicki Hudon. Many recognizable recipes with a macro twist.
• Sugar Blues, by William Dufty. Amazing information to help lighten your sweet-tooth!
• Rice is Nice, by Wendy Esko. 108 Ways to prepare grains, & organize your cooking, quickly!
• Sweet and Natural, Meredith McCarty. 120 Delectable Desserts without sugar! Enjoy!

Marsha Rueff has been an assistant to Michio Kushi for his group consultations during four consecutive Kushi International Summer Conferences. For nine years, Marsha taught classes individually and in groups to familiarize novices to experts in the joys of macrobiotic cooking and the suggested manner of food preparation. Marsha works closely with top macrobiotic consultants including Warren Kramer.

At Tree Tops, a macrobiotic bed and breakfast in Atlanta Georgia, Marsha prepares delicious meals in a quiet healing and relaxing setting. With years of background in home arrangements and feng shui, Marsha specializes in kitchen organization and on-site lessons in your home.