At this time of year when the cold and flu season is at its peak, my children usually take turns to bring home a few rounds of sicknesses from school. Last weekend we caught a cold traveling back from Utah and our whole family came down with fever and coughs. We didn’t have much of an appetite, so I decided to make some warm Japanese Rice Porridge (Okayu) for the family....
Ingredients 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups peeled and diced potatoes (2 medium russet potatoes) 4 slices bacon, cut in half 1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 2 bottles (8 oz each) clam juice 1/4 cup whipping cream 1/2 teaspoon onion salt 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed 1 cup frozen corn, thawed 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves 1 cup cooked deveined peeled medium shrimp, tail shells removed (about 6 oz)...
Ingredients 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box 1 container Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla or creamy white frosting Red food color 2 bags (6 oz each) assorted flavor stretchy and tangy taffy candies (strawberry and grape) 48 purple candy-coated chocolate candies 48 miniature chocolate chips Preparation Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans)....
Ingredients 1 cup uncooked bulgur wheat or cracked wheat 1/2 cup dried lentils, sorted, rinsed 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 can (15.25 oz) whole kernel corn, drained 2 cans (14 oz each) vegetable or chicken broth 2 medium tomatoes, chopped (1 1/2 cups) 1/2 cup drained pitted kalamata olives 1 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese (4 oz) Preparation In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except tomatoes, olives and cheese....
Ingredients 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 small onion, sliced 2 medium bell peppers, cut into strips 2 cups Muir Glen™ organic pasta sauce tomato basil (from 25.5 oz jar) 1 package (16 oz) rotini pasta 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz) Preparation Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. In 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker, place chicken. Top with onion and bell peppers....
Ingredients 1/2 cup chunky-style salsa 1/2 cup honey-flavored barbecue sauce 1/2 lb thinly sliced cooked roast beef 4 hoagie buns, split 1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese (4 oz) Preparation In 10-inch skillet, mix salsa and barbecue sauce. Stir in beef. Cook over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot. Spoon beef mixture evenly onto bottom halves of buns. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over each. Cover with top halves of buns....
Ingredients 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 tablespoon water 1 egg white 1 cup pecan halves 1 cup whole cashews 1 cup walnut halves 1 cup red and green candy-coated chocolate candies Preparation Heat oven to 300°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, water and egg white with electric mixer on high speed 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is frothy....
Preparation There are many reasons why we reach for the fabric softener come laundry day. Habit, for one. But we also want our clothes and linens to smell fresh and feel cozy—and to come out wrinkle- and static-free. For some, softener is as essential as detergent (several brands even market two-in-one formulas). But have you ever considered whether or not fabric softener actually works, and how it affects each item you send through the washing machine?...
Preparation The largest fruit in the world, the jackfruit, is lumbering into a supermarket near you—assuming it isn’t there already, that is. Its presence in conventional grocery stores is beginning to raise eyebrows and has also inspired logistical head-scratching: How do I get this huge thing home, and then what do I do with it? Simply put, jackfruit can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what you need to know about the buzzy ingredient....
Ingredients 16 oz. semisweet chocolate 1 cup unsalted butter 6 eggs 1 cup white chocolate chunks or white vanilla chips, melted 1 (8-oz.) container whipping cream 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons white crème de cacao, if desired 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips, if desired 1 (10-oz.) pkg. frozen raspberries in light syrup, thawed 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/3 cup red currant jelly Preparation Heat oven to 400°F....
Preparation CHOWDER The chowder clam, the cherrystone, and the littleneck are all the same bivalve species: Atlantic hard-shells, or quahogs (KO-hogs). They are distinguished by size, and the chowder is the largest (because it’s the oldest, harvested at up to eight years of age), measuring more than three inches across. Too tough to eat raw, it turns soft and juicy when chopped and used in chowder or stuffed clams. STEAMER This Atlantic clam, a staple of New England clam shacks, is knows as a “soft-shell” because its oval-shaped armor (one-and-a-half to three inches in diameter) is more brittle than a quahog’s....
Ingredients 1 1/4 cups crushed amaretti cookies 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted 4 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 4 eggs 1 3/4 cups canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup whipping cream 1 tablespoon powdered sugar 1 tablespoon amaretto or 1/8 teaspoon almond extract Toasted sliced almonds, if desired...
Ingredients 2 1/2 ripe medium bananas 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts 1 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 1-lb container) 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and/or miniature semisweet chocolate chips, if desired Preparation Heat oven to 375°F....
Ingredients Vegetable oil 1 pound fish fillets, thawed if frozen 3 to 4 tablespoons Original Bisquick™ mix 1 cup Original Bisquick™ mix 1/2 cup regular or nonalcoholic beer 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg Tartar sauce, if desired Preparation Heat oil (1 1/2 inches) in heavy 3-quart saucepan or deep fryer to 350°. Lightly coat fish with 3 to 4 tablespoons Bisquick mix. Beat 1 cup Bisquick mix, the beer, salt and egg with hand beater until smooth....
Ingredients 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 cups bread flour 2 tablespoons instant nonfat dry milk 1 tablespoon sugar 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons bread machine dry yeast or active dry yeast 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 (2 1/4-oz.) can sliced ripe olives, drained Preparation Use bread machine that produces 1 1/2-lb or larger loaf. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off....
Japanese Castella Cake, or Kasutera (カステラ) in Japanese, is a popular Japanese honey sponge cake that was originally introduced by the Portuguese merchants to the Nagasaki area in the 16th century. The name is derived from Portuguese Pão de Castela, meaning “bread from Castile”. Castella is made of just 4 basic ingredients: bread flour, eggs, sugar, and honey. A dark brown top and bottom crusts with a creamy yellow center give a beautiful contrast to the sponge cake....
Ingredients 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef 2 cans (15 oz each) tomato sauce 1 cup ketchup 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons dry onion soup mix (half 1-oz package) 2 eggs 2 cups cottage cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 8 uncooked lasagna noodles 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz) 1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend (4 oz) Preparation Heat oven to 375°F. In 3-quart saucepan, cook ground beef over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; remove from heat and drain....
Ingredients 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch pieces 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 3/4 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton) 1 cup uncooked orzo or rosamarina pasta (6 oz) 1 can (14.5 oz) Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained 1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise in half, then cut crosswise into slices (2 cups) 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese Preparation In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat....
Ingredients 6 oz uncooked spaghetti 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 1 small green bell pepper, chopped (1/2 cup) 1 medium stalk celery, chopped (1/2 cup) 1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup) 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce 1 loaf (8 oz. box) VELVEETA™ Original Cheese, cut into cubes 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cups diced deli rotisserie chicken (from 2- to 2 1/2-lb chicken)...
Ingredients 1/2 cup sugar 1 tablespoon water 2 teaspoons corn syrup 1/4 teaspoon almond extract or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 bag (14 oz) sweetened shredded coconut (about 5 1/3 cups lightly packed) 1 1/2 cups finely shredded unsweetened coconut 3 oz cream cheese, softened 2 egg whites, slightly beaten Preparation Heat oven to 325°F. Line 1 large or 2 small cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. In 1-quart saucepan, combine sugar, water and corn syrup....
