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Ingredients 1/4 cup Kalamata olive tapenade 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves 1 can (11 ounces) refrigerated soft breadsticks 1 cup marinara sauce, heated, if desired Preparation Heat oven to 350°. Mix tapenade and rosemary. Separate breadsticks; roll or press each breadstick until 2 1/2 inches wide. Spread 1 teaspoon tapenade mixture evenly down center of each breadstick. Roll up breadsticks lengthwise in jelly roll fashion. Cut each lengthwise in half; twist each piece 2 or 3 times....

Kamikochi (上高地) is a stunning plateau, 10 miles (16 km) long and 5,000 feet (1,500 m) above sea level, located in Chubu Sangaku National Park. It’s sometimes called Japan’s Yosemite Valley due to the similarities to Yosemite in California (where our home is). We visited during our trip to Nagano Prefecture and were instantly drawn to the beautiful wilderness of Kamikochi. Where is Kamikochi 上高地 Kamikochi is located in western Nagano Prefecture, within the towering mountains of the Japanese Northern Alps....

Ingredients 1/4 cup chicken broth 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 lb ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots 1/4 cup real maple or maple-flavored syrup 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans Preparation In 12-inch skillet, heat broth and salt to boiling over high heat. Add carrots; reduce heat to medium. Cover; cook 10 to 12 minutes or just until crisp-tender. Drain if necessary. Add syrup and butter to carrots in saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until carrots are glazed....

Ingredients 2 cans (6 oz each) crabmeat, well drained, flaked 3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz) 3/4 cup Original Bisquick™ mix 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions 1/2 cup finely chopped red, yellow or orange bell pepper 1/2 cup finely chopped celery 1/2 cup milk 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning 2 eggs Preparation Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly spray 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray....

Ingredients 1 box (1 lb 2.3 oz) Betty Crocker™ fudge brownie mix 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 3/4 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom of 13x9-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, water, oil and eggs until well blended. Spread in pan. In small microwavable bowl, microwave peanut butter uncovered on High 30 seconds; stir....

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix 1/3 cup very hot water 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 2 shallots, finely chopped (about 1/3 cup) 2 medium pears, peeled, cut into 1/4-inch slices (about 2 cups) 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (2 oz) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Preparation Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix and hot water until soft dough forms....

Ingredients 2 cups whipping cream 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup canned pumpkin pie mix (not plain pumpkin) 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 8 plastic cups (6 oz) 1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies 4 oz white chocolate baking bar, broken into 8 pieces Preparation In medium bowl, beat whipping cream and vanilla with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form (thick, but cream still falls onto itself)....

Ingredients 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ devil’s food cake mix 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 3 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz), melted, cooled slightly 1/2 cup sour cream 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon red food color 3 eggs 2 cups Cool Whip frozen whipped topping, thawed Preparation Heat oven to 300°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with heavy-duty foil....

Ingredients 8 egg yolks 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups milk 2 cups whipping cream 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/2 cup bourbon Additional freshly grated nutmeg Preparation In medium bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar with wire whisk until thick and lemon colored. In 2-quart saucepan, stir milk and 1 cup of the whipping cream. Add yolk mixture, stirring with whisk. Cook over medium heat 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture just coats a metal spoon....

Ingredients 3- to 3 1/2-lb whole broiler-fryer chicken 1 1/2 lb buttercup or acorn squash, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch rings or slices, then cut crosswise in half 2 medium onions, cut into 1-inch wedges (2 cups) 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves, crumbled 1 clove garlic, finely chopped Preparation Heat oven to 375°F. Fold wings of chicken under back....

Living in the mild California climate, I miss the colorful changes during the four distinct seasons in Japan, from foliage in fall to cherry blossoms in spring. I also miss the seasonal changes in ingredients. When sansai (山菜) or mountain vegetables are in grocery stores in Japan, you know that spring is just around the corner. Although we don’t get that well-defined seasonality here, I always use cooking as a way to enjoy seasonal changes....

Ingredients Glue gun and glue sticks 8 candy canes, 6 inches long 4 bars (2.07 ounces each) chocolate-covered peanut, caramel and nougat candy 4 packages (1 1/2 ounces each) raisins 4 foil-covered chocolate Christmas trees (1.3 ounces each) or 12 foil-covered chocolate gift packages 4 foil-covered peanut butter or chocolate Santas (1 ounce each) Preparation For each sleigh, pipe glue along sides of 2 candy canes (in wrappers); attach to either side of candy bar to make sleigh runners....

Preparation We take sleep for granted. During the week, we have so much going on that we might not get as much sleep as we should. We may even try fitting in more work before we go to bed. The CDC reported that one in three adults don’t get enough sleep. Americans are exhausted, and it’s taking a toll on us. Bleary eyes, dark circles, lack of energy-these are just some of the signs of not getting enough sleep....

Ingredients 1 package (20 oz) boneless skinless chicken thighs, cubed 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained 1 3/4 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton) 1 cup water 1/2 teaspoon red pepper sauce 1/2 lb cooked kielbasa, sliced 1 cup frozen bell pepper and onion stir-fry (from 1-lb bag), thawed 1/2 cup uncooked instant white rice Preparation In 3- to 3 1/2-quart slow cooker, mix chicken, tomatoes, broth, water and red pepper sauce....

Ingredients 1 boneless beef chuck roast (3 1/2 to 4 lb), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup) 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground mustard 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1/3 cup vinegar 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 3/4 cups ketchup 22 sandwich buns, split Preparation In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except buns....

Ingredients 8 cups water 1 package (1 pound) dried yellow split peas, sorted and rinsed 3 medium carrots, diced (1 1/2 cups) 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup) 1 medium stalk celery, chopped (1/2 cup) 1 cup diced Canadian-style bacon (5 ounces) 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled 1/4 teaspoon pepper Preparation In 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients....

Ingredients 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ chocolate chip cookie mix 1/2 cup butter, softened 4 oz (half 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened 1 egg Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir all ingredients until soft dough forms. Spread dough evenly in pan. Bake 20 to 24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 hour....

Preparation There are few rites of spring more satisfying than the annual deep clean. For many people, however, the pleasure comes only after the work is finished. Cleaning your home from top to bottom may never become effortless, but you can make the project more manageable-and even enjoyable. This printable checklist offers an overview of everything you need to know-including information on cleansers, stain removal, fabric care, and storage-to zip through the process....

Donburi rice bowls are the quintessential Japanese comfort meal. “Don” (丼) refers to the bowl that the dish is served in, so for a typical donburi, you get a bowl of fluffy steamed rice with toppings such as vegetables and meat or seafood all in one meal. In Japan, you can even find fast food chains specialize in donburi where you make your order and payment through a vending machine before picking up at the serving counter....

Preparation You might think it involves complex patchwork, but at heart, quilting is a very simple craft. Just nestle batting between two layers of fabric and sew them together. Try your hand at a project and turn basic materials into homespun works of art, starting from square one. First, when choosing a thread for hand stitching, don’t simply compare the spool to your fabric, side by side. Unravel it and lay it down on the fabric....