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Preparation Introducing your parents and future in-laws for the first time often goes one of two ways: they either love each other from the start or they set the stage for a contentious relationship. Whether you’re worried about clashing personalities, hot-button political conversations, or feelings of competition or jealousy, preparing for this meeting ahead of time will help you relax. Been putting this meeting off due to schedules (or nerves)? We’re here to help....

Ingredients 1/3 cup shortening 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 15 medium muffin cups, 2 1/2x1 1/4 inches. Mix shortening, 1/2 cup sugar and the egg throughly in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg alternately with milk....

Throughout the year I receive many requests for Japanese desserts, especially with matcha (green tea) as an ingredient. I hope this Matcha Pudding (抹茶プリン) will satisfy some of the readers’ cravings. The Japanese enjoy this dessert all year round, and it’s a perfect little sweet to end a meal. Easy Matcha Pudding Recipe This pudding dessert is very easy to make. As long as you have a few hours before guests come, you can quickly make it and still have enough time to chill the pudding in the fridge....

Preparation If you own a cast iron skillet, you know that cleaning it properly is important. Cast iron pans need to be seasoned and can rust easily if the seasoning is eroded. The good news? If you know exactly how to care for yours, a cast iron skillet will last a lifetime—and it’ll continue to get better with age. Here’s how to clean and properly season your cast iron skillet....

Preparation You clean out your coffee pot every day, after you savor each drop of your cup of joe, and yet the bottom of your carafe still has some residual grime. What gives? Leslie Reichert, a green cleaning coach and author of The Joy of Green Cleaning ($14.95, amazon.com), says it’s hard to prevent buildup on your coffee maker; the brown ring you see on the glass is essentially a combination of the minerals in the water and lime deposits....

Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tablespoons grated gingerroot 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 2 teaspoons garam masala 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 2 dried bay leaves 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste 1 can (14 oz) light coconut milk 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces 1 container (6 oz) Greek plain yogurt...

Ingredients 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed 1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn, drained 1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ diced green chiles 4 green onions, sliced (1/4 cup) 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves Food Should Taste Good™ multigrain tortilla chips Preparation In medium bowl, mix beans, corn, green chiles, green onions, lime juice, coriander, cumin and cayenne....

What do you usually end up eating when the weather gets impossibly warm and you start losing your appetite? Growing up in Asia, summers were often brutally hot. To beat the heat, my favorite go-to dishes on these sweltering days are Japanese Cold Somen Noodles (そうめん) and Soba Noodles. As you slurp the slippery cold noodles dipped in delicious tsuyu, you’d feel your body starting to cool in the summer heat....

Ingredients 2/3 cup super-fine blanched almond flour 1/2 cup coconut flour 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into pieces 2 oz cold cream cheese (from 8-oz package), cut into pieces 1 egg, slightly beaten 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup butter, softened 2/3 cup golden raw cane sugar replacement made with erythritol and monk fruit extract 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree...

Our family has traveled extensively throughout Japan for many years but we never fail to take away something new from each of our excursion. Behind every destination, it appears to come with its own fascinating history, rich saga, and notable charm. Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was no exception; the visit was full of surprises and a memory our family will never forget. Where is Kunozan Toshogu Shrine Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is situated in southwest of Tokyo and it takes 2....

Lily bulbs or yurine (百合根, ゆりね) are the edible bulbs of the lily plant. They can be eaten raw, stir-fried, deep-fried (like tempura), simmered, or added to sweets or soups. They are a starchy vegetable commonly used in high-end Kyoto cuisine (京料理) and Osechi Ryori. What Are Lily Bulbs The bulb of Lilium longiflorum and Lilium brownii varieties are eaten in Japanese and Chinese cuisines. Like garlic, lily bulbs consist of tightly layered flat scales or petals connected at the stem base....

Ingredients 1 1/4 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/2 cup macadamia nuts, finely chopped 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg, beaten 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 cups whole milk 4 egg yolks 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 large bananas, sliced 1 cup whipping cream 2 tablespoons powdered or granulated sugar 1/2...

Ingredients 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ white cake mix Water, vegetable oil and whole eggs called for on cake mix box 2 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa 2 tablespoons seedless strawberry jam 1/4 teaspoon Betty Crocker™ red gel food color 1 cup butter, softened 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar 2 to 3 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon seedless strawberry jam Betty Crocker™ red gel food color 1 teaspoon unsweetened baking cocoa...

Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 lb (about 1 1/8 cups) shortening 2 lb powdered sugar 5 to 6 tablespoons milk 2 teaspoons vanilla Betty Crocker™ blue classic gel food color (or other desired color) Preparation This recipe assumes you already have an 8- or 9-inch 4-layer cake, frosted between layers with favorite white buttercream frosting, then frosted thinly on outside and top to seal crumbs. To make Ombre Buttercream Frosting, in large bowl, beat butter and shortening with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended....

Ingredients 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup Gold Medal™ All-Purpose Flour 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 5 to 5 1/2 cups sliced peeled fresh peaches (5 to 6 medium) 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 package (12 oz) frozen Pillsbury™ Deep Dish Pie Crusts (2 Count) Preparation Place cookie sheet on oven rack. Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, mix sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir in peaches and lemon juice. Spoon into frozen crust....

Ingredients 1 box (17.8 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme triple chunk brownie mix Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box for cakelike brownies 1 cup marshmallow crème (from 7 oz jar) 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter 2 teaspoons milk 16 Reese’s peanut butter cups miniatures, unwrapped, chopped 1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts 2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips Preparation Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan)....

Ingredients 25 peppermint candies, unwrapped 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ sugar cookie mix 1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 egg 1 cup powdered sugar Preparation Heat oven to 400°F. In bowl of a food processor, place peppermint candies; cover and process until very finely crushed. In large bowl mix cookie mix, flour, melted butter and egg with spoon until soft dough forms. Stir in 1/4 cup crushed candies....

Ingredients 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 12 canned pineapple rings 12 maraschino cherries 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix 1 cup pineapple juice 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, if desired Additional maraschino cherries, if desired Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray....

Ingredients 1/2 lb lean ground pork 1/2 cup chopped green onions (8 medium) 1 tablespoon grated gingerroot 24 wonton skins (about 3 1/4-inch square) 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Preparation Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. In small bowl, mix pork, onions and gingerroot....

Ingredients 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ German chocolate cake mix 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 tub (15.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Coconut Pecan Frosting 1/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 egg, slightly beaten Caramel topping, if desired Sweetened whipped cream, if desired Pecan halves, if desired Toasted coconut, if desired Preparation Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). In large bowl, stir together dry cake mix and butter....