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Preparation What fruit is as evocative as a ripe peach? Velvet to the touch, easily bruisable, instantly dripping with juice, peaches are the epitome of summer. The perfect peach is both a story and a memory: Whether bought from a roadside farm stand nestled among summer cornfields, or from a busy city market, the first peach you bring home should always be eaten at once. But how do you go about finding that perfect first stone fruit of the year?...

Ingredients 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Dough Sheet or 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves 2 teaspoons heavy whipping cream or milk 1/2 cup chopped cooked applewood smoked bacon 6 grape tomatoes, quartered (24 pieces) Preparation Heat oven to 375°F. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper....

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ self-rising flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup milk 1/2 cup butter, melted 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup old-fashioned oats 1/2 cup chopped pecans 4 ripe medium bananas, sliced Vanilla ice cream, if desired Preparation Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix 1 cup of the flour, the granulated sugar and milk with whisk just until blended....

Preparation Most of us have several over-the-counter and prescription medicines stored for safekeeping in our bathroom cabinets: prescribed pills from previous injuries and hospital stays, tablets of allergy relief medicine and decongestants, and bottles of aspirin we’ve brought home after getting an unexpected headache at work. Those medications have expiration dates stamped on them, but how important are they? Is it ever safe to take a pain pill that has an expiration date of a week, a month, or even a year ago?...

Ingredients 3 cups water 2 pouches (3.6 oz each) Betty Crocker™ Homestyle creamy butter mashed potatoes (just-add-water variety) 3 cups vegetable oil Ranch dressing, if desired Preparation In 2-quart saucepan, heat water to boiling. Turn off heat. Add potatoes. Mix to combine. Spread potatoes onto an ungreased rimmed half baking sheet or 13x9-inch pan. Smooth top with spatula. Place in freezer about 1 hour or until frozen. Using cookie cutter or sharp knife, cut out stick shapes....

Ingredients 1 box Betty Crocker™ Gluten Free chocolate chip cookie mix Butter, vanilla and egg called for on cookie mix box 1 cup chopped pecans 40 caramels, unwrapped 1/3 cup whipping cream 1/3 cup chopped pecans 1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups) 1/3 cup whipping cream 1/4 cup chopped pecans Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Make cookie mix as directed on box, using butter, vanilla and egg. Stir in 1 cup pecans....

Ingredients 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 4 medium green onions, chopped (1/4 cup) 1 can (14 to 15 oz) artichoke hearts, drained, cut into small pieces Crackers or cocktail rye bread, if desired Preparation In ungreased 1-quart microwavable casserole, mix all ingredients except crackers. Cover tightly; microwave on Medium-High (70%) 4 to 5 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes, until hot. Serve warm with crackers....

Preparation Like many objects of value, terra-cotta pots take on character as they age. The clay darkens, assuming a whitish cast from fertilizers and the minerals in water. When kept in the shade and watered frequently, the pots gradually acquire a verdant sheen of algae or moss. But you don’t have to wait for that look. These six easy techniques help pots undergo a transformation in weeks—if not sooner. Start now, and you’ll enjoy their vintage charm for many seasons to come....

Preparation We’re washing our hands more now than we ever thought necessary—and for good reason, since it’s one of the best defenses we have against the rapidly spreading coronavirus. To effectively cleanse your hands and remove COVID-19 causing germs and other microbes, it’s important to suds up with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, says New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Y. Claire Chang of Union Square Dermatology. “This ensures that you cover the full surface area of the hands, including the front and palms of the hands, the wrists, the fingers, and between the fingers,” she says....

The weather is getting cooler and the leaves are starting to fall. Fall has arrived and that means pumpkin and squash season upon us! Fall is my favorite season and I especially love all kinds of seasonal ingredients only available this time of the year in Japan. Kabocha, Matsutake mushrooms, chestnuts, Sanma (pacific saury), just to mention a few. What’s Kabocha? Kabocha is an Asian variety of winter squash. Japanese simply call it Kabocha (南瓜、かぼちゃ、カボチャ) and the word kabocha refers to all kinds of pumpkins in Japan....

Ingredients 4 beef sirloin or rib eye steaks, 1 inch thick (about 2 lb) 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted 2 tablespoons chopped fresh or 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves 2 teaspoons lemon-pepper seasoning 2 medium bell peppers (any color), cut lengthwise in half, seeded Preparation Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Trim fat on beef steaks to 1/2-inch thickness if necessary....

While my mom was visiting from Japan during Christmas and New Years, we got to cook together a couple of times. I invited her to be my guest chef so all I needed to do is to take pictures while she’s cooking. If you are a food blogger who takes step-by-step pictures of cooking for every recipe, like Manu of Manu’s Menu, you know how hectic and time-consuming it is having to wash hands after each step in order to take pictures....

Ingredients 2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix 1 cup milk 2 eggs Fresh blueberries, chocolate chips or raisins Preparation Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat or to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, milk and eggs until blended. Lightly oil griddle. For each pig face, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot oiled griddle. Pour scant tablespoonful batter onto griddle for snout and another scant tablespoonful for ears....

Preparation You don’t need a lakefront property to enjoy the benefits of backyard water. Stacked pots filled with a pump and filled to the brim produce sounds reminiscent of lapping waves. The vessels’ rolled rims – and resulting cascades – amplify the sound of the water, and their coloring corresponds with a nearby begonia. Collect three “display” pots and two “support” pots. The measurements should not matter, so long as the bases and tops correspond as shown above....

Ingredients Lime wedge Coarse sugar or granulated sugar Ice cubes 1/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail 2 tablespoons (1 oz) citron vodka or vodka 2 tablespoons (1 oz) blue curacao 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice Preparation Moisten rim of chilled martini glass with lime wedge. Sprinkle sugar onto small plate, and dip moistened rim into the sugar to coat lightly. Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add cranberry juice, vodka, curacao and lime juice; cover and shake....

Ingredients 1 lb uncooked elbow macaroni 1/2 cup butter 1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 3 1/2 cups milk 4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (16 oz) 3 tablespoons butter, melted 2 cups Progresso™ plain crispy panko bread crumbs Preparation Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 18x13x1-inch sheet pan with cooking spray....

Preparation We’re constantly searching for ways to unwind, whether it’s through meditation, journaling, or a little at-home self-care. But for centuries, people have turned to geothermal pools as a source for relaxation and healing-and have traveled all over the world for a coveted soak. The way it works is groundwater is geothermally heated from the earth’s crust. As the water forces its way to the surface, it carries along dissolved minerals to create some of the most beautiful, detoxifying springs that many call a natural wonder....

Ingredients 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened 2 cups shredded deli rotisserie chicken 1 cup Frank’s™ RedHot™ Original cayenne pepper sauce 1 cup blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz) 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (2 oz) Toasted sliced bread, crackers or celery sticks, as desired Preparation Spray 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Add cream cheese and 1 cup of the chicken....

Ingredients 16 oz sour cream 1 cup ricotta cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz) 2/3 cup diced pepperoni 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped Preparation In large bowl, mix sour cream, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, the pepperoni, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic until well combined. Pour mixture into 3- to 4- quart slow cooker. Top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese....

Ingredients 1/2 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon orange juice 4 medium oranges, peeled and sectioned 3 medium bananas, sliced 1 cup strawberries, cut in half 1 cup seedless green grapes, cut in half Preparation In large bowl, mix sour cream, honey and orange juice until smooth. Add oranges, bananas, strawberries and grapes; toss gently to mix. Related Video