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Dear Friends,
We greatly appreciate Bruce and Crystal Macdonald who represent our Supplier in sharing much of the content for this month's newsletter which highlight's Hokkaido Azuki Beans from Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. You can read Bruce's amazing story about these wonderful beans below, and you will see they are so very nourishing and beneficial to one's kidneys especially during the winter months. Also we have some great home remedies from Crystal which feature these beans and some truly scrumptious recipes too, who says one only has to eat just aduki beans and squash to enjoy them! In addition we have some wonderful recipes that are not Azuki bean related to share with you, contributed by friend's whose products we feature at Simply Natural.
 They literally saved my life back in 1963 when I was diagnosed with a life threatening kidney infection. I tell this story because these are absolutely remarkable little red beans. After going thru all the antibiotics my doctor could prescribe to no avail, a friend of mine introduced me to Macrobiotics. She said, "if you just eat Japanese Azuki beans everyday, your disease will go away." For almost a year, I ate a strict diet of kasha and drank the liquid of slow cooked-down azuki beans. As you can probably imagine I am incredibly grateful for azuki beans as they worked like magic on my kidneys and set my life on a new path. Over the years I have felt honored to be able to import and offer people many medicinal-quality foods from Japan, but of all the wonderful foods, these miracle beans will always hold a special place in my heart.
Bruce S. Macdonald
Hokkaido Island Azuki Beans - Japanese Small Red Beans
Japanese Azuki are a small, dried, oval-shaped bean with a distinctive deep red color and character. Azuki beans have a light nutty, semisweet flavor and are one of the few beans that contain low fat and high protein. They have been grown in the Far East for centuries and were introduced to Japan around 1000 A.D. Today, azuki are one of the largest crops grown in Japan with an annual production of over 120,000 metric tons. After the soybean, azuki are the second most popular bean in Japan. This beloved versatile bean is a key ingredient in a wide array of Japanese dishes and desserts. Azuki have been used since ancient times as an effective medicinal tea in Japanese "kampo" (Japanese traditional medicine) and are also employed externally as a beauty aid.
Azuki beans contain lower fats and oil than any other bean and possess noteworthy health benefits for the kidneys, bladder, and reproductive system. They are also known as the most "yang" (or warming) bean. The special Azuki that comes from Hokkaido, Japan are uniquely medicinal due to their vine structure and because they are grown in the rich and fertile volcanic soil of the island. Japanese Hokkaido Azuki beans are now highly regarded all over world and have come to be known as the "Mercedes" of beans. The Japanese particularly are fond of Hokkaido Azuki and have chosen them for their important holidays. The beautiful red color imparts a pink hue to the famous dish called Sekihan or "Red Rice" which is served during their biggest holiday, the New Year celebration.
Health Benefits of Japanese Hokkaido Azuki: ...Hokkaido Azuki bean are high in mineral components, such as vitamin B1 and poly phenols and contain more potassium than other azuki beans grown outside of Japan.
The Japanese have used Hokkaido Azuki Beans for centuries to strengthen the heart, regulate blood circulation, help with fatigue, and improve the functions of the bladder and kidneys. Hokkaido Azuki are also used to keep the digestive system healthy and on track. Azuki beans from Hokkaido island are packed with magnesium, calcium, and iron and therefore are ideal for women's general health. The Japanese have long...Read More
Crystal's Corner
 Azuki Facial Scrub - Azuki Bean Powder has been used by Japanese women for over 1,200 years and remains popular today. This delicate yet effective scrub deep cleans...Read More
 Hokkaido Azuki Tea (Hokkaido azukicha) - This soothing, yet revitalizing tea made from Japanese Azuki beans is good for regulating the kidneys and urinary functions, puffy bags and dark circles under the eyes, dissolving kidney stones, and relieving bowel constipation. This tea is also used in Japan to...Read More
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News You Can Use And Even More Recipes!
 Check out Ilanit Tof's amazing blog, Energized Eating It is chock full of healthy and delicious recipes, tutorials, and helpful articles regarding health that should be of interest to all of you. You can subscribe directly to receive new additions directly via email. For starters, Ilanit has shared with us this month, her Asian Slaw with Vegan Nayonaise recipe.
 Spring has not sprung but will be soon, and one of the chief organs to nourish at this time of the year is your liver, check out some of the wonderful benefits of Sauerkraut by Melanie Brown Waxman, and also a lovely recipe by her, Tempting Temph. To make this even more tempting, how about making your own sauerkraut! Links to all you need are included.
Some upcoming classes by Melanie
Up-coming Spring series of cooking classes with Melanie in Lionville, PA.
Spring into Spring on March 2nd
Learn dishes and healthy tips to help make the smooth transition to the lively and enthusiastic days of spring. A fabulous meal from soup to dessert will be shown and you get to relish all the results!
One Pot Cooking on March on March 16th
Learn how to make nutritious and delicious dishes that are a meal in one. Great for an quick and energizing lunch or dinner.
Scrumptious Seitan on March 30th
Discover the easy way to make this wonderful food that is high in protein and a tasty, vegan alternative to meat. Mochi stuffed seitan, sweet and sour seitan, pan fried noodles with seitan and seitan tempura are some of the dishes that will be shown.
Special for these 3 classes - $40 per class!
Please sign up early because the class size is limited.
Classes run from 10am-1.00pm and include a generous tasting of all the dishes prepared.
 Quick Fixes from Susan Marque super fast noodle bowl
I had some of the rice noodles like you would make pad tai from and I boiled them. While they were boiling I mixed a 1/2 avocado with some ume paste and mashed it together. Drained the noodles and added the avocado mixture and then a sprinkle of paprika and it was great! You could also sprinkle in Nori/Dulse flakes and add a few beans if you like for a more complete meal with some greens too but hey oh so fast and good..............
Susan does some amazing teleclasses, each is an hour and a half long that you can take from anywhere in which a phone is nearby, they are totally life changing. They are $69 each or two for $99.00. Also check out her wonderful cookbooks that we sell jam packed with recipes for the low price of $15.00 each. Since they are in a pdf format, you can purchase and download and have brand new recipes to make for your next meal!
Susan's Signature Living Series Presents:
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Seasonal Recipes
Bruce's "Tune-up" Azuki Soup
This nourishing and hearty soup is the ultimate "tune-up" for the kidneys. It is a tonic that will make them smile! A very...read more
Ultra Low-Fat Azuki Dip
A delicious dip that is a healthy choice your family and friends will love. Perfect as an attractive appetizer. I just served mine at the last Super Bowl Sunday. I got creative and...read more
Hokkaido Azuki Bean Brownies
This scrumptious recipe was given to me while I visited the "Yuki Matsuri" Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan. I brought a batch to work this past Valentine's Day and everyone...read more
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Young, tender pods of Azuki Beans dangle prior to being harvested in Hokkaido, Japan
The interior view of an azuki pod
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Questions or Comments? Contact us, we'd love to hear from you!
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