3/30/95 This is the transcript of The Natural Connection TNC : OK, let's go ahead and get started. TNC : Good evening everyone, and thanks for coming. I'll be your host this evening, and our guest is TNC : Wendy Esko, famous natural foods chef. She has published several books of her own, and TNC : co-written many others. She has studied cooking in Japan and the USA, and taught extensively TNC : throughout the world since 1976. Welcome, Wendy! Sue CCC : Welcome Wendy! TNC : If you've been following Wendy's articles in our Chef's Corner, you already have some great recipes. TNC : Does anyone have any questions on those pasta, soup, bean, tofu or "home cooking" recipes? Sue CCC : Yes, they look delicious! Q. Elizabeth : I have a really hard time getting TVP..any suggestions?? Liz Mac : I wonder about some of the ingredients. They weren't familiar to me Q. Elizabeth : oops..I meant getting it to taste good! Sue CCC : Okay, Wendy do you want to take Elizabeths question first ... Wendy Esko : That comes with practice! Sue CCC : then move on to Liz Mac ... hope that's okay Liz Liz Mac : Sure NatanI : Do you have recipes for rice pudding and custard using tofu milk (especially VitaSoy or EdenSoy)? Mtims : If you are in Alexandria, VA come to our store-Cash Grocer Natural Foods. Otherwise try Mountain Ark. Wendy Esko : Patience is the key, keep experimenting, and remember that your tastes will change too. Sue CCC : To maintain the sanity of our guest and host, we'll be Sue CCC : moving to modified protocol NOW. Sue CCC : Sue CCC : That simply means, if you'd like to ask a question please Sue CCC : type "?" in the public screen and wait for your name Sue CCC : to be called. If you want to make a comment, please feel Sue CCC : free to do so. Thanks :-) Sue CCC : (Question queue: Liz Mac, Natani) Ettan : Hi Wendy do you know of a root that prevents plaque? Sue CCC : So Q.Elizabeth, did that answer your question? Sue CCC : Ettan, I'll put you in the queue , thanks ;-) NatanI : ? Sue CCC : guess so she left ... Sue CCC : Liz Mac please reask your question about the ingredients .. Liz Mac : What does one do with tempeh? I am somewhat confused about what to spice it up with. Sue CCC : Question queue: Natani, Ettan - be with you in a moment CHEF KARL : how does the quick defroster item work so quick? Or is it just a gimmick* Pot on the Stove* Wendy Esko : Pan frying with oil, saute' with vegetables, stir fry, deep fry, boil it, mix it into mock tuna... Sue CCC : Chef, I'll put you in the queue and Wendy will answer your question in a moment .. thanks ;-) CHEF KARL : sorry Sue CCC : Question queue: Natani, Ettan, Chef Karl - be with you in a moment Liz Mac : Sounds like it could be pretty versatile, but it seems to have a fishy taste that stands out Sue CCC : no problem Karl - thanks! Wendy Esko : Also can be used in soups, sushis, etc. It's just like using beans. It's also good protein source. Sue CCC : Liz, does that answer your question? Liz Mac : I guess I was thinking of it purely as a meat substitute. Such as a substitute for hamburg Wendy Esko : There are many flavors, almost like cheeses. Try a different brand. Liz Mac : They seem to come in lots of flavors, not just soybeans. Mtims : There are numerous types of tempeh combination from seaweed to corn and jalapeno. try it with onions. Sue CCC : Question queue: Natani, Ettan, Chef Karl - be with you in a moment Sue CCC : that's a nice sounding idea Mtims TNC : GA Natani Sue CCC : Natani, your question please? Liz Mac : Thanks. Will try. NatanI : Do you have any recipes for rice pudding and custard using soy milk (esp Vitasoy & Edensoy)? Sue CCC : Question queue: Ettan, Chef Karl (outside room) - be with you in a moment Mtims : ? Wendy Esko : None in the cookbooks, but we can post one in our discussion area in The Natural Connection. Sue CCC : Question queue: Ettan, Chef Karl, Mtims - be with you in a moment Sue CCC : that's a great idea! Wendy Esko : Go ahead Chef Sue CCC : Ettan, please go ahead! Liz Mac : I just saw a recipe for rice pudding in a book called Mostly Macro. NatanI : that would be super... thanks... when should I look for it? Ettan : Thanks Sue ) Ettan : Wendy do you know of a root that prevents plaque? TNC : We'll get it online within the week, Natani. NatanI : cheers CHEF KARL : I.m back Sue CCC : Question queue: Chef Karl, Mtims - be with you in a moment Sue CCC : Great Chef, after Ettan has finished your up :-) Mtims : Does dentie (roasted eggplant prevent plaque or at least claim to, Wendy? Sue CCC : If you'd like to find out more about the books Wendy has Sue CCC : written and perhaps purchase some of them, please go Sue CCC : to the TNC Mini Mall, and check out the TNC Bookstore. Sue CCC : They're incredibly interesting and at affordable prices :-) Wendy Esko : Don't use it as a toothpaste, because it's abrasive. It's meant as a gum POWDER... Wendy Esko : Plaque can also be a result of eating too much salt. Sue CCC : Wendy are you talking about Dentie? when you saw don't use it as a toothpaste? Wendy Esko : Yes. Sue CCC : oh okay, thanks! Sue CCC : Mtims, did you have another question? Sue CCC : WB Ettan! Ettan : sorry was disconnected Mtims : Yes, do you think that we will ever produce kudzu in this country? Ettan : rewind please Wendy Esko : Very possible, but will require a lot of money, big machinery. Sue CCC : Welcome Kcog Sue CCC : <--- 1/1ing Ettan! Wendy Esko : Root can grow up to 100 feet into the ground. Liz Mac : Isn't kudzu the stuff that grows in the South all over the trees? Mtims : It just seems we are at the whim of the currency in buying macrobiotic supplies from Japan Wendy Esko : If someone wanted to, though it could be done. That would make it more affordable here in the US. Mtims : Yes kudzu grow all over, especially near railroad tracks TNC : Yes, Liz Mac. Sue CCC : Question queue is empty! Liz Mac : ? TNC : Not for long! Sue CCC : please ga Liz! Sue CCC : ? ---- for Ettan Liz Mac : I am new to this stuff. So please bear with me. What is mochi? Sue CCC : isn't it sticky rice? Wendy Esko : Made from sweet rice, cooked, pounded into a sticky blob... Sue CCC : very chewy! Wendy Esko : Then it's dried and cut into squares... Liz Mac : If I need some to use in a recipe do I have to do all that stuff? Wendy Esko : Then it can be cooked, steamed, pan fried, baked, etc. Ettan : ? Sue CCC : (Question queue: Ettan) Sue CCC : I believe you can buy it ready made can't you Wendy? TNC : GA Ettan. Sue CCC : From health food stores? Sue CCC : Mochi that is Wendy Esko : Yes, most health food stores carry it. Sue CCC : great thanks Sue CCC : Okay Ettan, fire away with your question please! Sue CCC : The question queue is empty! If you would like to ask a Sue CCC : question please type a "?" in the public screen, I'll enter Sue CCC : your name in queue and call you when it's your turn. Thanks :-) Sue CCC : Ettan must have been bumped again .... Sue CCC : I do know his question though ... Wendy Esko : OK... Sue CCC : was looking for a root that was used by natives to prevent plaque Sue CCC : Wendy, do you know of one? Mtims : ? Wendy Esko : Sorry, I thought that we covered that about eggplant... Sue CCC : (Question queue: Mtims) Sue CCC : I think he was looking for something else more specific ... Sue CCC : however if eggplant is it ... then that's fine ... Sue CCC : I'll send him email. Sue CCC : Okay Mtims, please go head! Mtims : Have we progressed to the point where Macrobiotic has truly rooted in America and its food resources? Sue CCC : good question Mtims Wendy Esko : I believe we have. We've been big promoters of that... Wendy Esko : My research shows that the whole world used to eat a grain-based diet... Mtims : It seems the division exists between the parent generation of Michio, and all the new "teachers" Sue CCC : Welcome ALee Wendy Esko : Japan held onto that idea because they were isolationist... Wendy Esko : Now the rest of the world is "remembering" Wendy Esko : I don't see division, I see evolution... Sue CCC : (Question queue is empty .. please place a "?" in the public screen if you wish to ask a question) Wendy Esko : George Oshawa was different than Michio, and so Michio's students will be different too, growing all Mtims : well thanks again in your part of the "remembering". See you later sue CCC and wendy> Wendy Esko : the time. Sue CCC : Thanks for coming Mtims ... night! Liz Mac : ? Sue CCC : Liz please go ahead! Liz Mac : Have you any suggestions for helping your family adjust to the changes in diet? TNC : ?(We've got a question from our staff here...) Wendy Esko : Yes... Sue CCC : Okay staff :-) putting you in the queue, after Liz! Sue CCC : (Question queue: TNC) Wendy Esko : If you're eating traditional American diet, you must communicate with one another a LOT... Liz Mac : We are not eating a totally traditional diet. I've been following a yeast diet for years. Wendy Esko : and be flexible. Use lots of substitutes, go slowly, don't change all at once... Liz Mac : Or maybe I should say anti yeast. But they are dedicated meat eaters at least some of the time. Wendy Esko : John Robbins wrote an excellent book, Diet for a New America... Sue CCC : Wendy, what was the most important point of the book? Wendy Esko : Meat is usually easy to give up, and there are lots of good soy substitutes for dairy products... Liz Mac : I don't use dairy products, its the meat that is the bugaboo. Wendy Esko : The book really pointed out the inhumane way we "farm" animals... Wendy Esko : Meat is an inferior food for humans. Liz Mac : Don't I know it. I wish I knew some way to convince others of that. So I need to substitute something. Wendy Esko : Use the soy and bean products, if not fish. Fish is a great substitute. Liz Mac : I guess that fish scares me with all I have read about the fishing grounds being polluted. Liz Mac : What do you think? Wendy Esko : Beef and chickens are polluted beyond your wildest thoughts... Wendy Esko : Fish is a better choice, if you eat animal foods. Liz Mac : What meat we eat is raised by a friend on her farm without chemicals. So I lose on that one. Sue CCC : gee your lucky Liz! Liz Mac : Sorry to be difficult. I'm throwing at you what is thrown at me. I figure you've heard it before. Sue CCC : We always try to buy free range, chemical free foods too! Sue CCC : :-) Liz Mac : Living in Maine we're lucky to have a lot of choices. Wendy Esko : We ate meat once a week when I was little. Now consumption is excessive, once a day or more. Liz Mac : We eat meat two or three times a week at most. I won't cook more than that. Sue CCC : Wendy, is there any particular reason you see that change happening ... from once a week to once a day Wendy Esko : The less the better... Sue CCC : at least? Sue CCC : And do you see with macrobiotic cookery, people finding the answers to a search to go back to the ... Sue CCC : basics? Wendy Esko : The meat industry has pushed consumption with "education" programs that promote their products. Liz Mac : Do you think the new food pyramid will change some of that? Sue CCC : good question Liz! Wendy Esko : The strongest athletes in the world are vegetarians. Sumo wrestlers used to eat vegetarian, and live Wendy Esko : long lives. Wendy Esko : Yes, Sue, everyone is still searching. Wendy Esko : Natural foods turn out to be a good answer for many. TNC : Hey! I need to interrupt! Sue CCC : please go ahead! Sue CCC : you've been awful quiet there TNC, please do! Sue CCC : Welcome KLiebf! TNC : I've got an announcement to make... Sue CCC : great, shoot TNC : It's time to announce our fabulous door prize and its winner! TNC : The fabulous prize is YOUR CHOICE of any one of Wendy's books in our online Bookstore! Sue CCC : and who's the winner? TNC : And the winner is.........(drum roll please..........) Sue CCC : *drum roll* TNC : (suspense) Sue CCC : :::more suspense:::: Sue CCC : okay, okay, let's cut with the suspense now :-) TNC : Liz Mac! Congratulations! You've won! You asked more questions than anyone else tonight. Sue CCC : *cheer* for Liz Mac! Sue CCC : They're wonderful books! Sue CCC : If you'd like to find out more about the books Wendy has Sue CCC : written and perhaps purchase some of them, please go Sue CCC : to the TNC Mini Mall, and check out the TNC Bookstore. Sue CCC : They're incredibly interesting and at affordable prices :-) Sue CCC : To find out more information about Wendy and the Sue CCC : wonderful recipes she has to share, check out Chef's TNC : Go ahead and run right on over to the bookstore, pick one out and then come on back and let us know. Sue CCC : Corner in The Natural Kitchen (on the top level here) Liz Mac : Wow! Okay, I'm off. TNC : We'll tell you everything that happened while you were gone. Sue CCC : great Liz, lucky person! Sue CCC : LOL TNC Sue CCC : So TNC, you had a question for Wendy ... Sue CCC : sorry I didn't forget! Wendy Esko : Hi KLIEBF! Sue CCC : Kliebf, you're very welcome to lurk ... Sue CCC : TNC, your question? TNC : How do you make a creamy pudding as opposed to jello type? KLIEBF : Hi! Just thought I would be an inconspicuous lurker :) Sue CCC : KL, you're doing just fine :-) Wendy Esko : Use agar-agar, a seaweed based flaked product. Combine with kuzu to make custard. Wendy Esko : Soy milk can be used as a base. Sue CCC : what about tofu? silken tofu? Wendy Esko : Blending can be done to improve consistency. TNC : What ratio of kuzu to liquid? Wendy Esko : 1 quart of soy milk to 3 tbsp of agar... Wendy Esko : and 2 heaping tbsp of kudzu. Wendy Esko : Sue, you can also use tofu, but you need to reduce liquid amount. Sue CCC : by how much Wendy? Wendy Esko : You'll have to experiment, I don't have measurements... Sue CCC : thanks Wendy Sue CCC : So Liz, did you check out those books? Sue CCC : And make a decision? Sue CCC : They're all great, aren't they! Sue CCC : Welcome Plant! Wendy Esko : Any last questions? Sue CCC : Not from me, Liz what about you? Liz Mac : What is kuzu? Sue CCC : Actually I've heard of it but was wondering myself too ... Sue CCC : good question! TNC : Can we help you pick a book? Sue CCC : Perhaps Wendy would care to answer first ... Sue CCC : then if she needs to leave she can ... Wendy Esko : Kuzu is a root powder that's used for thickening. Sue CCC : and TNC you might like to stay and help Liz with her choices Sue CCC : Thanks Wendy! TNC : OK Sue, sounds good to me... Liz Mac : Thank you Wendy. Sue CCC : It has been a fascinating conference .... Wendy Esko : You're welcome Liz. Sue CCC : we hope that you will come back with us again soon! Sue CCC : To find out more information about Wendy and the Sue CCC : wonderful recipes she has to share, check out Chef's Sue CCC : Corner in The Natural Kitchen (on the top level here) Wendy Esko : Good to be with you all. Good night! Sue CCC : Good night Wendy! Sue CCC : Thank you so much Sue CCC : And thank you Liz for being a wonderful audience participant Sue CCC : with us to the end! Liz Mac : Okay. This was fun. Sue CCC : We hope that you'll share some of your finding, and if you have more question ... Sue CCC : please don't hesitate to put them on the discussion board Sue CCC : TNC or someone else will answer your questions as soon as possible Liz Mac : Will do. Sue CCC : I'll leave TNC and Liz to do their book shopping together! Sue CCC : Thank you all very much, it has been a pleasure! TNC : Thanks Sue!!!! Liz Mac : Thanks Sue TNC : <kisses and hugs> Sue CCC : :-) Sue CCC : night! TNC : Liz, you still there? Liz Mac : Yes I am. TNC : Did you have a question about the books? Liz Mac : The book I thought looked good was The Quick and Natural Macrobiotic Cookbook but... Liz Mac : it's listed in the Chef's Corner and not the bookstore. TNC : Can you wait while I check? Liz Mac : Yes TNC : Be right with you... TNC : It doesn't look like we have a supplier for that one. Do you want us to check further for you? Liz Mac : No. I'll take her Introducing Macrobiotic Cooking. That will get me going. Liz Mac : I can check it out at the local bookstore. TNC : OK Liz, we'll get that out to you soon. Can you please eMail us your physical address? Liz Mac : Will do. Thanks a lot! TNC : OK, good night! Liz Mac : See you later. Good night. 3/30/95 10:14:43 PM Closing transcript file.