January Newsletter from Simply Natural

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2008 Volume 1, Issue 1

Premier Issue

Seasonal

Newsletter

Letter From Our Supplier...

Dear Friends,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support this

past year, and wish you all the best for 2008.

In this issue we are proud to feature our very special Japanese cast iron

cookware. Many of our customers ask, " What makes your cast iron

unique? "

Our genuine cast-iron is

exclusively imported from the Iwachu Casting Company. " Nambu Tekki "

or cast iron ware has been made by hand in the small town of Morioka in Iwate

Prefecture. Morioka is a famous area known for their 400 year history of

skilled casting in the northern capital city of the Nambu clan. This

tradition has been honored by succeeding generations of Nambu feudal lords

and Iwachu remains the oldest and largest producer of traditional cast iron

in Japan today.

Their

traditional designs bridge the gap between present day needs and the grace

and simplicity of the past. Fine Japanese cast iron is both beautiful and

practical to use. The cast iron we offer is of the highest-quality in all the

world.

January is considered by the Japanese to be the heart of winter and a time

when the body needs warming foods, which when cooked slowly in cast iron

brings strengthening energy and extra needed iron to our body.

Looked after properly, your

Japanese Cast-Ironware will last a lifetime.

Happy New Year!

Bruce S. Macdonald

President

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The

Fine Art of Japanese Cast Iron

Our

high-quality authentic cast iron is made by the Iwachu Company, located in

Morioka Prefecture, Japan. Iwachu is the most well known and respected

manufacturer of traditional Nanbu-style ironware. Today, craftsmen at Iwachu

pay respect to this ancient tradition by creating each Iwachu product with

precision and hand craftsmanship. Iwachu's ironware has earned a well

deserved worldwide reputation for their superior quality, beauty, and lasting

durability.

The production process

of making traditional cast iron consists of 64 to 68 steps. At Iwachu, most

of this process is still done by hand and quality is strictly maintained and

controlled by a master craftsman known as a " kamashi " . It requires

at least 15 years to become a full-fledged craftsman, and 30-40 years to

become a " kamashi. "

The Japanese craft of Nambu-tekki (cast iron) sprang from the middle of the

17th century and remains popular today. Nambu Tekki, Japanese cast iron has

been crafted in the northern capital city of the Nambu Clan (present day

Morioka in Iwate Prefecture) for over 400 years. Cast Iron is quite famous

for cooking various Japanese winter dishes called Nabemono or

" one-pot " cooking. The superior insulating properties mean that the

heat is distributed more evenly and stays warmer for a much longer period of

time than regular cookware. For this reason, using cast iron to cook at the

table for everyone to share has become an enjoyable practice and a great way

to appreciate not only the ready-made food but the beauty of the Nambu. The

Japanese usher in the New Year serving winter dishes to their guests using

cast iron because it is a viewed as a status symbol in Japan. Cast iron is

also used for making Tempura, delicious deep-fried vegetables or seafood.

Cast Ironware is also preferred for sautéing and baking. Traditional Japanese

cast iron ware is a boon for cooks since it heats evenly, retains heat well

and lasts virtually forever. In addition to the health benefits, one of the

main advantages of using Japanese cast iron is that it is extremely durable.

The versatility of the iron pot or skillet is unrivaled; use it on the stove

top, grill, or in the oven. The fact that you can first use on the stovetop

and then pop the same pot in the oven makes for quick and easy cooking!

How to Season &

Care for your Cast-Iron Ware

Health Benefits of using Cast Iron: Good-Quality Cast Iron yields important

health benefits. Iron-deficient diets are all too common these days and food

or liquid cooked in cast iron ware provides significant traces of this

essential mineral. Just as foods cooked in aluminum absorb some of the

aluminum, foods cooked in cast iron absorb iron. For example, one 100-gram

serving of spaghetti sauce prepared in cast iron cookware may contain 87.5

milligrams of iron compared to only 3 milligrams when cooked in a glass

vessel. Since iron is essential for good health, cooking in cast iron can be

an easy way to increase your daily intake of of iron...Read More

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Crystal's Corner

Steaming

Saké Soak - Long

ago, when saké was entirely handmade a Japanese monk visited a saké brewery

and was astonished to discover all the saké producers had amazingly youthful,

smooth, soft hands and arms. This was due to the brewmasters exposure to

the...Read More

Spiced

Saké " O-toso " - Toso or Medicinal Wine is drunk in Japan at the New Year to

ensure health for the coming year and is served in specially decorated

vessels. Every family has their own special recipe for...Read

More

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New Products of Interest

Rhino Horn Neti Pot -

Recently featured on Oprah! While other

Neti Pots and nasal rinse systems are all made from the same basic design,

the Rhino Horn is patented to allow easy filling, easy pouring and easy

cleaning.

Make Your Own Fresh

Sauerkraut!

Comes in 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10

Gallon Sizes

7 "

Füri Ray Gusto-Grip East/West Knife (FUR827)

Pioneered by Füri,

the East/West knife is a combination of cook's knife and chopper.

Professional high performance food prep knife designed for maximum functionality,

for chefs and gourmet home cooks.

Norpro

Ceramic Compost Keeper

An very elegant

looking crock which will blend in with almost any kitchen decor. It will

store your vegetable peelings, egg shells, coffee grinds and much more

until you are ready to transfer your compost to your larger sized garden

composter.

_________________________________________________________

News You Can Use!

Hawaii Seminar

February 2008

Join Marque and Ashburn in Beautiful Hawaii

For an inspiring, healing, informative and very fun seminar

with time for private consulations and some fun in the sun. Cooking

Classes have been built into this well rounded program. Let your Sprit

soar and your body restore.

February 8th,9th & 10th, 2008

Discount Natural Foods

9146 Londonderry Turnpike #10 Hooksett,

NH 03106

888-392-9237 / 603-413-0038

email:sales@...

www.simplynatural.biz Log on to Go Shopping, Get Product Info, Find

Recipes or Just Browse...

A

Japanese caster or " kamashi " turns a hand-mill pouring liquid

iron into a mold

This Month's Feature:

Iwachu Cast Iron

Seasonal Recipes

" Osechi " (New Year's) Tempura

Cast Iron used in making

Tempura allows for much more control, and the...read more

Iron Wok Tofu Stir-fry

The secret to fantastic

Stir-frying is a Cast-Iron Wok. Cast-Iron provides for even...read more

Skillet Blueberry Upside-down

Cake

Melt away your winter blues

with this scrumptious warm blueberry...read

more

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Questions or Comments?

Contact us, we'd love to hear from you!

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