Shazzie,
The size of the pickle depends on several things:
Your state of health
Your needs
Your capacity often determined by your size.
Don't microwave your food, chew it well (it will warm up with each chew!).
All foods should be as organic as possible, as your misos.
The older the better for health and darker is usually more yang than light.
You may mix two misos in soup but make one of them the greater influence.
Use of yeast depends on your state of health and how long you have been macrobiotic.
If you are just starting and in good health, you might experiment with yeast but you may find in time, that the microorganisms contained in good quality fermented food are far superior.
Tell us more about yourself and what brings you to macrobiotics and we may be able to better help you with your progress.
Have you read any macrobiotic books and if so, which ones are your favorites?
Thank you, very much.
Bruce Paine