Mayumi's Kitchen: Macrobiotic Cooking for Body and Soul

There are so many photos in this cookbook! Also, the salad dressings are simplistic and delicious. I lent my last copy to a friend a didn’t get it back when she moved out-of-state (it happens), so I ordered a second copy, as I could not go without one in my kitchen. To note: Mayumi was formerly the personal chef for Madonna for some time, for what that is worth. The bonus feature of simple detox plans for those wishing to get started with plant-based eating or for those wishing to dive right in are also a nice touch. Aaaand... the recipes are just delicious! Mayumi has presented what I would consider to be one of the best primer books for people looking to eat more plant-based foods or just to eat more health-consciously in general. This book will inspire you and bring your happiness in the kitchen. Highly recommended!

I have heard many times brown rice is good, so I have been eating it almost 10 years. Compared to white rice, it is not tasty as I grew up eating steamy white rice so many years. At first I lost interest in eating. But now I cook brown rice with carrots, edamame, or daikon, and it taste better. I read before that an American physician, Dr. Anthony J. Sattilaro, who was the President of Philadelphia Methodist Hospital, ate bacon and steak all the time and developed a deadly cancer. He was told he would die in a year or so. Then he learned about a Macrobiotic diet from a hitch hiker. He said, "Cancer is easy to treat. You must change your bad blood to good through diet. Brown rice is the hardiest vegetable, full of energy and nutrients. People eat wrong food that is why they become cancer. The physician ate faithfully, according to the Macrobiotic diet menu for one year. Even he went to parities, he brought brown rice balls. After a year, he became cancer free. After I read the book, titled "Recalled by Life" by Anthony J. Sattilaro with Tom Monte, I was interested in Macrobiotic diet. Then I found "Mayumi's Kitchen--Macrobiotic Cooking for Body and Soul," at a library. It says, "Macrobiotic is a balanced way of eating; it means consuming the foods humans need in order to live in harmony with nature and the universe." Mayumi uses brown rice, vegetables, fruit, a lot of beans, tofu, konbu, dried mushrooms and fish that are very familiar to me. I cooked a few dishes such as Pan-Fried Chickpea-Millet cakes, Soba Salad with Asian-Style Dressing, Chirashi sushi, Avocado Rolls, Steamed Vegetables and miso soup. They are good and I felt more energy. As I haven't eaten meat since I was 7, I didn't have a lot of energy like a meat eater. But I discovered that chick peas satisfied my energy level and fill me up. I also like this cook book because Mayumi cooks for one or two people. As I live alone, I don't like too much left over. I want to eat fresh as possible. Each picture is so beautiful that it gives me a good appetite and Mayumi explains how to cook very easily. Mayumi recommends having a pressure cooker so I ordered it. When I get it, I can cook many other recipes faster and easier. I am going to use this cook book and the pressure cooker the rest of my life. This is the perfect cook book for me. I give Mayumi Nishimura a million thanks.

I love this cookbook!! New to macrobiotic cooking, Mayumi's book has help me understand and appreciate an introduction to healthy eating. I enjoy all the pictures in the book. The beautiful images help me anticipate what my dish may look like when finished. Her recipes are clear and easy to create. What I really like most is the international flavors she brings to the kitchen. She has recipes from different places she has traveled with Madonna, collecting and adding to her culinary treasures. It's not just Japanese macrobiotic cooking. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone. My whole family loves the food I create from her book. Mayumi's lovely recipes has brought some variation to vegetarian cooking in our house. Amazing and tasty!!!

Her recipes look simple and her instructions are idiot-proof. Yummy, healthy and asian inspired dishes, some of which even my kids will eat.

I am not an expert on macrobiotics, so let me place that disclaimer up front and center. I pre-ordered this book, and just got it yesterday. For the size of this book, there is much to love. The recipes are straightforward, and for the most part do not require ingredients too awfully obscure. There is a particular grain that I would probably have to mail order for (although she does offer substitutes), but the rest of the lists include things I usually have on hand as someone who has already started delving into this way of eating. (Ume plum vinegar, daikon, greens, sesame oils, etc.) I'm excited to try so many of the recipes - the spring rolls, "ja-ja" tofu, salmon soup, the noodle dishes, pressed salads, nori rolls ... I wish I had the book here with me; I could be more specific! You won't find in-depth macrobiotic theory here, for which I'm grateful. If you want to really learn the theory of macrobiotics, I'd recommend Macrobiotics for Dummies, or one of Simon Brown's books on the subject. Here, you find a book that tells a bit about Mayumi and her story, which is nice, but mostly, it's packed with recipes. There are helpful color photos everywhere - of the finished dishes, dishes being prepared, step-by-step instructions, and a lot more. I love the way the sauces/dressings are organized and laid out. First, a double page with a small overhead shot of each sauce, and a description of it and the many ways you can use it. Next page, you'll find the recipes. She's got a nice detox plan in here, as well. I really like how she makes use of leftovers in these menus. No waste, and the food gets used quickly, for optimum nutrition. Some of the recipes are similar to those in other macrobiotics books I own (these are simply mainstays in macrobiotics, such as pressed salads or pickles) but most are different or are variations on the theme. If I had to list one con, it would be that some of the menus may not be practical on a day-to-day basis (at least for working people), such as the multi-course breakfasts. I aim to figure out how to make this work, but without having to heat something up, I'm not sure. I'll get back to you on that. Once I try some of the recipes I'll try to come back and report. But by looks alone, I think Mayumi's Kitchen is a keeper. (Just a note to the publisher: I did see a couple typos, which happens, occasionally, with a first printing. Pickle was misspelled once, and in the ingredients index some text was omitted.) I would not count this as a reason not to buy this book, though.

Mayumi's Kitchen is a fabulous update to age old recipes!!! It is a beautiful, warm and friendly book with excellent ideas and good information. Mayumi's history of Japanese cooking and macrobiotic education has blended most harmoniously in the stunning rendition of culinary artistry. The lovely, detailed, step by step photographs lead the reader through this primer of healthy eating, and easy food prep. I think this book is a "MUST HAVE" in everyone's kitchen. I enjoyed every delicious and delightful page of it!

An excellent cookbook, and a genuine, innovative achievement in macrobiotic cooking. The recipes are clear and concise. The flavourings clean and satisfying. After just a few days of eating this way you will feel more energetic and alive. A comment on the 'unusual' ingredients called for in this book mentioned by a few other reviewers. I suppose if you only shop at major supermarket chains that cater to the mainstream American diet, this is true (though, if that's where you shop exclusively for food, you're probably not buying this book anyway). if you live in an area with an Asian market or two -- and that describes most parts of the U.S. these days -- you will find everything you need.

I like this book, it has a lots of pictures and the recepies look amazing, I can't wait till the holidays are over so I can start cooking some of this amazing yummy food.

Good Book

It's nice to learn new cuisine and cooking techniques for an "alternative taste". Good to discover a different cuisine world.

I have a background in Macrobiotics so I was already familiar with some of the more 'unfamiliar' ingredients. I have used almost every recipe in the book. All are easy and taste great. The 10 day detox was perfect. It felt less like a detox and more like a re-set on how to eat well. I loved the volume and variety of food. A few 'spa' breakfasts notwithstanding.. I lost six pounds and have never had a flatter stomach while eating so much food!

Jeder, der die klassische makrobiotische Küche (Kushi/Nakamura) kennt, wird sich wahrscheinlich freuen, wenn er Mayumis auch optisch überaus ansprechenden Rezepte ergänzend nachkochen kann! Ich habe das Buch leicht auf Englisch lesen können und schon mehrere Köstlichkeiten nachgekocht und ausprobiert - seien es Bratlinge, Suppen oder einfache Tricks und Kniffe, die das Leben ohne Fleisch einfach mehr ''umami'' machen. Mayumi hat's drauf! EINFACHE und sehr leckere, vor Allem aber GESUNDE Küche! Kaufen, kochen, freuen :-)

プチマクロで美人ご飯を気に入ったのでこちらも購入 英語なので洋食なメニューが中心かと思って購入しましたが肩透かし(*_*) コーンを茹でただけのメニューって写真とレシピ要る?と疑問が……… 10日間ダイエットメニューが基本です 和食のマクロ中心なので外国人の方のマクロの本を買えばよかったなぁと後悔 外国人の友達にあげることにしました 和食の紹介になります また お値段が張ってるので レシピ数にも期待してましたが 半額で買える日本のレシピ本より少ない気が……… アメリカでよく見かける分厚いハードカバーです。だから高いのか?