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Preparation After the bride, the star of every wedding is the cake. The delicate sugar flowers, the towering tiers, the gorgeous coloring all add up to one striking confection that guests look forward to viewing and eating. But one thing they won’t see at many weddings these days is a traditional bride and groom cake topper. For decades it was trendy to position plastic miniatures of a generic newly married couple on the top tier of a wedding cake, depicting the lovebirds dancing, holding hands, or sometimes simply looking straight ahead (perhaps into their future?...

Ingredients 3 eggs 2/3 cup milk, room temperature 2/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 2 to 3 teaspoons grated lemon peel 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 lemon, quartered Powdered sugar Preparation Heat oven to 425°F. Place butter in 10- to 12-inch ovenproof skillet; place in oven to melt. In small bowl, beat eggs, milk, lemon peel and almond extract with whisk. Add flour; mix until batter is smooth. Pour into hot skillet....

Ingredients 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ cookie mix chocolate chip Butter and egg called for on cookie mix pouch 1 cup dark chocolate chips 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream 32 fresh raspberries Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 32 mini muffin cups with cooking spray. Make cookie dough as directed on pouch. Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough into muffin cups. Bake 8 minutes. Immediately press dough in each using back of spoon to form cup....

Preparation After a hard day of weeding your garden, a good long soak in an Epsom-salt bath can soothe your aching muscles. But did you know that Epsom salts can give your roses a boost, too? It all comes down to the salts’ chemical components. Epsom salts are comprised of magnesium sulfate which, along with sulfur, occurs naturally in garden soil. Both are important secondary nutrients for plants. Magnesium is necessary for plants to generate chlorophyll, which plays an important part in photosynthesis (the pivotal process in which plants turn light energy into chemical energy)....

Preparation Painted vases, vintage dinner plates, antique tea sets, dolls, and figurines—all of these coveted items provide timeless beauty. But unless your collectibles are behind glass, they are likely to accumulate dirt and grime from dust particles in the atmosphere. How you clean your pottery and porcelain collectibles depends on several factors, explains Stuart Slavid, the senior vice president of European decorative arts and silver at Skinner, Inc. “Is the item glazed or unglazed?...

Ingredients 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef 1 1/4 cups tomato pasta sauce 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz) 2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Additional heated tomato pasta sauce, if desired Preparation Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain....

Ingredients 1 tablespoon cumin seed 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds, (removed from pods) 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns 2 dried bay leaves 2 three-inch cinnamon sticks, broken 1 lb uncooked extra-large shrimp, peeled (tails left on), deveined 1/4 cup plain regular or fat-free yogurt 2 tablespoons lime juice (1 lime) 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro 2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon Bishop’s weed (ajwain)...

Mr. JOC and I started watching season 2 of the popular Netflix® show – Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories so that we can re-create the recipes from the series. In Episode 3, an old man named Umejii went into the diner and requested for pickled plums. When the master handed him a plate, he ate 10 of these plums straight up! My mouth immediately watered and my face scrunched up, literally like a sour plum....

Ingredients 1 oz cream cheese, softened 1 oz crumbled blue cheese (about 8 teaspoons) 1 ripe (not firm) medium pear, cut in half lengthwise, cut into 12 slices 6 thin slices prosciutto, cut in half lengthwise Preparation In small bowl, stir cream cheese and blue cheese, using rubber spatula, until well blended. Spread rounded 1/2 teaspoon cheese mixture on each pear slice. Starting at one end of each pear slice, wrap 1 prosciutto strip in spiral fashion around pear slice....

Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil 1 1/4 lb ground turkey 1 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ’n Chunky salsa 2 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 2 cans (14.75 oz each) cream style sweet corn, undrained 2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1 pouch (6.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ cornbread & muffin mix 1/3...

Ingredients 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lb) 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil 1 1/2 teaspoons parsley flakes 1 teaspoon seasoned salt 1 teaspoon garlic pepper blend 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves Preparation Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Brush both sides of chicken with oil. Sprinkle both sides with remaining ingredients. Place in baking dish. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F)....

Ingredients 2 lb beef flank steak 1 packet (1 oz) Old El Paso™ Hot & Spicy Taco Seasoning Mix 1/2 can (28 oz) Old El Paso™ Mild Red Enchilada Sauce 1 onion, finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, sliced 1 orange bell pepper, sliced 1 1/2 cups canned black beans 4 cups water 1 cup quick-cooking dry polenta 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (4 oz) 2 tablespoons butter Salt and pepper, to taste...

Ingredients 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese 1 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ’n Chunky salsa Nacho or tortilla chips, if desired Preparation In 1-quart saucepan, heat cream cheese and salsa over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cream cheese is melted. Keep warm in heatproof dish. Serve with chips. Related Video

Ingredients 2 boxes Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ white cake mix Water, vegetable oil and egg whites or eggs called for on cake mix boxes 1/4 teaspoon blue gel food color 1/4 teaspoon violet gel food color 2 tubs (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Dark Chocolate Frosting 1 1/2 teaspoons black gel food color 1/2 container Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting 8 green string licorice Betty Crocker™ Decorating Decors™ galaxy nonpareils...

Ingredients 4 eggs 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup cold water 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 1 cup whipping (heavy) cream 1/2 cup canned cream of coconut (not coconut milk) 3 tablespoons light rum or 1 tablespoon vanilla 3/4 cup whipping (heavy) cream 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 cup flaked coconut, toasted...

Preparation Chances are you’ve seen a paella pan-the wide, shallow cooking vessel used to make the Spanish rice-and-meat (or seafood) dish of the same name. But have you ever cooked paella in one? If you’re thinking of taking the plunge and getting a paella pan of your own, here’s what’s you need to know. First and foremost, it’s important to note that paella is the definitive dish of the Valencia region of Spain, and the pan defines the dish-literally....

Yuzu koshō (柚子胡椒) is a Japanese citrus chili paste that originated in Kyushu, in southern Japan. It is a paste made from chili peppers, yuzu zest (a Japanese citrus fruit), and salt, which is then fermented. What Is Yuzu Kosho A fiery, spicy, salty paste, yuzu kosho is a versatile finishing condiment. It consists of just three ingredients, yet it’s potent and concentrated. It is usually used as a condiment for hot pot dishes, miso soup, sashimi, tempura, sauce/seasonings, and salad dressings....

Today’s recipe is a vegetarian salad with bitter melon, or sometimes called bitter gourd. In Japanese this vegetable is called Goya (ゴーヤ) or Nigauri (にがうり). The bitter melon is dressed with tofu and sesame sauce, and it’s not only healthy and light but also delicious! The tofu and sesame flavor makes the “bitterness” very gentle and mild, so if you are not a fan of bitter melon this recipe could change your mind....

Ingredients 1 tablespoon canola oil or butter 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup fat-free (skim) milk 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1 bag (1 pound) frozen pasta, broccoli and carrots in creamy Cheddar sauce 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or green onions Preparation Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in butter 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown....

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup hot water 1/2 cup Alfredo pasta sauce (from 16-oz jar) 2 cups chopped cooked chicken 1/2 cup chopped cooked ham 1 1/2 cups finely shredded Swiss cheese (6 oz) 3 medium green onions, sliced (3 tablespoons) Preparation Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 12-inch pizza pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, Parmesan cheese and hot water until soft dough forms....