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What was your summer drink growing up? Lemonade, watermelon juice, or maybe Capri Sun? Most Japanese kids enjoy drinking Mugicha (麦茶), chilled roasted barley tea. We carry an insulated bottle filled with cold mugicha and ice to summer activities, camping, and playing in the playground. Cold mugicha is a lifeline to surviving brutally hot and muggy Japanese summers. My children also grew up drinking mugicha and it’s a wonderful drink to keep in your refrigerator all summer long (and we drink it hot in winter too)....

To usher in the most magical and delicious time of year, we’re excited to partner with our friends at Kokoro Care Package to give away their upcoming October Nourishing Essentials Care Package. The beautiful box features yuzu flavored condiments and pantry items as well as an in-depth English brochure. In case you’re wondering, yuzu is a unique citrus fruit that has a significant place in Japanese culture. Learn more below....

Ingredients 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 1/4 cup seafood cocktail sauce 1/4 cup whipping (heavy) cream 1 tablespoon bourbon whiskey, if desired 1/8 teaspoon red pepper sauce 1 pound cooked peeled deveined large shrimp (about 24 to 30), thawed if frozen Preparation Mix all ingredients except shrimp in small bowl. Serve sauce as dip for shrimp. Related Video

Ingredients 2 lb beef stew meat (1-inch pieces) 1 cup chopped onions (2 medium) 1 cup beef broth 1 cup red wine vinegar or cider vinegar 2 dried bay leaves 6 cups uncooked medium egg noodles (12 oz) 3/4 cup crushed gingersnap cookies (about 15) 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Preparation In 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix beef, onions, broth, vinegar and bay leaves....

Ingredients 2 cups packed brown sugar 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 egg 2 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 container (8 oz) sour cream 2 cups chopped peeled Braeburn apples (2 medium) 6 tablespoons butter, softened 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups of the brown sugar and 1/2 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes or until creamy....

Ingredients 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ sugar cookie mix 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted 1 egg 2 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour Betty Crocker™ decorating gels, if desired 1 tub (12 oz) Betty Crocker™ Whipped Fluffy White Frosting, if desired Betty Crocker™ decorating sugars, if desired Preparation Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg and flour until dough forms. Roll dough on floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick....

Ingredients 1 package (14 oz) uncooked chicken tenders (not breaded) 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon Frank’s™ RedHot™ Original cayenne pepper sauce 2 cups vegetable oil 3 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder Preparation Season chicken tenders with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper....

Preparation There is something stunning about a large ballroom with rows of tables that are covered in tall, elegant centerpieces. They can create a false canopy of flowers and add whimsy or formality to your event depending on the array of blooms you choose. However, that impactful effect gets lost once your guests have all been seated, and suddenly their cross-table views are blocked by whatever vessel is holding your display....

Ingredients 1 1/4 cups shredded zucchini (about 1 medium) 3 medium potatoes, peeled, shredded (3 cups) 1 large onion, finely chopped (1 cup) 1/3 to 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 egg 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Vegetable oil for frying Sour cream, if desired Chopped fresh chives, if desired Preparation Squeeze zucchini with paper towels to remove excess moisture. In large bowl, stir together zucchini, potatoes, onion, flour, egg, salt and pepper until well blended....

Ingredients 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb) 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) 2 tablespoons apricot preserves 1 cup chicken broth 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 1 cup uncooked couscous 2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted if desired Preparation Set oven control to broil. Spray rack in broiler pan with cooking spray. To flatten each chicken breast, place between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper....

Ingredients Preparation Related Video

Ingredients 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Preparation Mix all ingredients except oil. Brush oil on both sides of 1 pound chicken, pork or beef. Rub with seasoning mix. Grill meat as desired. Related Video

What do you do with leftover wrappers when you make gyoza – Japanese pan-fried dumplings? I usually keep the leftover wrappers for a quick appetizer on another day. One of the recipes I like to make is this Chicken Shiso Gyoza with Yuzu Kosho and Ponzu Sauce (しそ入り鶏餃子). It’s probably one of the easiest chicken gyoza anyone can make on a lazy Friday afternoon! Make Fold-in-Half Gyoza instead of Pleated Gyoza When I make this chicken shiso gyoza with the leftover wrappers, I keep it really simple by folding the wrappers in half instead of pleating them like the classic gyoza....

Ingredients 3/4 cup from 1 box (15.25 oz) Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ Devil's Food Cake Mix 1 cup Original Bisquick™ mix 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup milk 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup from 1 tub (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frosting 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon water Preparation Heat oven to 325°F. Lightly spray 2 doughnut pans with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cake mix, Bisquick mix, sugar and salt....

Ingredients 1 (16-oz.) jar Alfredo pasta sauce 1 1/4 cups water 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 (9-oz.) pkg. refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini 1 (14-oz.) pkg. frozen broccoli florets 1 cup Parmesan croutons, slightly crushed Preparation In large bowl, combine Alfredo pasta sauce, water, basil and pepper; mix well with wire whisk. Stir in tortellini and broccoli. Spoon into ungreased 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish. Cover with foil; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight....

Ingredients 1 cup sugar 1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 egg, separated 2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon water 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease bottom and sides of 15x10x1-inch pan with shortening. In large bowl, mix sugar, butter and egg yolk with spoon. Stir in flour and cinnamon. Press in pan. Beat egg white and water until foamy; brush over dough....

This homemade cranberry sauce is my son’s favorite and it’s perfect with Smoked Miso Butter Turkey Breast. I didn’t grow up with cranberries or cranberry sauce in Japan. However, eating sweet and tangy cranberry sauce always reminds me of the first Thanksgiving I spent with my American host family. It makes my heart warm thinking about the kind host family who welcomed me into their home. 3 Reasons Why You Should Make This Cranberry Sauce If you are not into cranberry sauce, maybe because you haven’t tried the delicious homemade cranberry sauce yet....

My 6-year-old son just finished kindergarten last week and our summer has officially begun. American schools have a long summer break. It varies depending on school districts and which state you live in, but in my son’s case, he’ll have about 10 weeks off! Oh, I wish I have 10 weeks of vacation (…daydreaming…). When I was growing up in Japan, my summer break was just 5-6 weeks, and I thought that was long....

Ingredients 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ devil's food cake mix 1 cup water 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs 1 1/2 containers Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting Tray or cardboard (20x14 inches), covered with wrapping paper and plastic food wrap or foil 2 yellow Betty Crocker® Fruit Gushers® fruit snacks, from a 5.4-oz box or 1 large yellow gumdrop 1 small black gumdrop Black shoestring licorice Preparation Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans)....

Preparation Crispy, fiery, and unapologetically messy, these mouthwatering game-day starters score big every time. We’ve got the play-by-play, plus an easy oven method and a tangy, less tingly sauce for chickens who can’t handle the heat. FOR THE DIP: Sour cream Mayonnaise 1 lemon 3 ounces Danish blue cheese FOR THE WINGS: Corn or other vegetable oil Cornstarch 3 pounds whole chicken wings *Pro tip: There’s a good reason we buy whole wings instead of split....