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Preparation The height of summer normally means neighborhood block parties, Fourth of July picnics, and potlucks galore, but with social distancing guidelines still in place in many states, gathering with family and friends will likely look a little different this year. Experts advise that parties should be held outside and guests who are not in each other’s “bubbles”—meaning immediate family members or those you live with—should stay six feet apart. If you want to host a socially distanced backyard barbecue, there are a few things you need to do to ensure that it’s a safe and comfortable experience for all....

As I was writing this post, I realized that my love for matcha started around the young age of eight. I remember my grandma took me to the Japanese tea ceremony – Ochakai (お茶会). I got to dress up and pretended to be a grown-up “lady”. Even though I was too young to comprehend the full meaning of the rituals, I was captivated by the gracefulness of the host and the elaborate presentation....

Preparation There’s a lot we’re willing to do for our pets, from upping our spending habits for them to making them the cutest DIYs and personalized toys. But one thing every pet owner could surely go without: all that pet hair. Whether you’re constantly spotting it on your clothes and linens or finding yourself covered in it after sitting down on your couch, anyone with a furry four-legged friend knows the struggle that comes from trying to clean up all that fur....

Pair these delicious juicy Meatballs with homemade Breadsticks and a Caesar Salad for a complete meal. BEST INSTANT POT MEATBALLS- Learn to make the BEST homemade juicy meatballs in a flavor-packed marinara sauce. All you need to do is the shape and throw the meatballs into the instant pot and dinner is ready. You don’t need to sauté the meatballs, just shape and add to the marinara sauce and cook – so easy....

Since I started sharing recipe tutorials on my YouTube channel, I’ve received a lot of feedback from my viewers and readers about the way I cut vegetables. Many of you told me you learned a lot about different Japanese cutting techniques from watching my videos. So Mr. JOC and I made a tutorial video compiling basic cutting techniques that Japanese use in our daily cooking. This tutorial does not include every single Japanese cutting technique, especially if it is only used for specific dishes such as holiday recipes....

We’re finally entering the season devoted to outdoor entertaining, and potluck is surely a favorite way to celebrate. It makes things easy on the host, and everyone gets to contribute to the meal and sample each other’s creations. Here, we’ve pulled together a spread of delicious ideas for your Japanese-themed potluck. The recipes range from popular Japanese grilled meat on the sticks to one pot vegetable dish to refreshing noodle salad to make-ahead desserts—every single one perfect for entertaining a big group of family and friends!...

Tiramisu is one of Mr. JOC’s top three favorite desserts, and he’s been asking me to make it for a long, long time. We both love matcha, so I decided to put a Japanese spin on this elegant dessert, Matcha Tiramisu (抹茶ティラミス). Matcha Tiramisu – A Really Simple Dessert Tiramisu is actually a very simple, easy-to-make dessert. Basically, this dessert involves two steps: Make the mascarpone cream filling with egg yolks, egg whites, sugar, and mascarpone cheese....

Ingredients 1 pouch Betty Crocker™ pumpkin spice cookie mix 1 cup butter or margarine, melted 3 eggs 1 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting (from 1-lb container) 1/2 cup chopped walnuts Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and eggs until well blended. Spread in pan. Bake 33 to 38 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean....

Every time the fall season comes around, Nami would mention to me how much she misses the mesmerizing fall scenery in Japan with the leaves changing colors. Our children had a 3 day weekend in October so we decided to visit somewhere in North America where we can enjoy the foliage. Our destination was – Montreal, Canada. One of the favorite activities for our family to do together is to explore new places....

Preparation Acrylic paintPaper (we used a roll of cream paper)Craft knifeMetal rulerDouble-sided tape1 1/2-inch circle sticker labelsTriangle matchbooks Use acrylic paint on any type of paper to create free-form designs, such as a splatter painting, stripes, spots, color blocks, and random brushstrokes. Let paint dry completely. Make the matchbook covers: Cut out sections of the paper into 2-by-2 1/8-inch rectangles. Wrap paper around the matchbook; secure with double-sided tape. Download, print, and cut out the “XO” slide tabs using a metal ruler and craft knife....

Ingredients 1 box (1 lb 2.3 oz) Betty Crocker™ fudge brownie mix Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box 8 oz semisweet baking chocolate, chopped 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter 48 paper lollipop sticks Block of plastic foam 3 tablespoons chopped salted cocktail peanuts 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt Preparation Heat oven to 325°F. Line 8-inch square pan with foil, leaving 1 inch of foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan; spray foil with cooking spray....

Ingredients 2 boxes (4.7 oz each) Betty Crocker™ scalloped potatoes 4 cups boiling water 1 1/3 cups milk 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 2 tablespoons butter 4 cups cherry tomatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley Preparation Heat oven to 450°F. Arrange oven racks on top and bottom thirds of oven. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish and large rimmed baking pan with cooking spray....

Shiratamako (白玉粉) is a type of glutinous rice flour/sweet rice flour, made from mochigome (もち米/糯米), glutinous short-grain Japanese rice. It is an ingredient in wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets. What Is Shiratamako Shiratamako, literally “white jade powder,” is a white flour made of glutinous/sweet rice. It’s an ingredient in mochi and many wagashi. Difference between Shiratamako and Mochiko Shiratamako and mochiko are glutinous rice flours, and you’ll find them used interchangeably in recipes....

Preparation To wear or not to wear, that is the question – at least when it comes to bringing your street shoes into the house. Culturally, the consensus is divided. Keeping on your kicks is common practice in many Western cultures, while it’s unheard of in many Eastern cultures, sometimes for religious reasons. Regardless of custom origins, the question we’ve been sitting on it: How much dirt are you really dragging in by bringing street shoes inside?...

Ingredients 1 (3-lb.) boneless beef rump or tip roast, trimmed of fat 1 garlic clove, slivered 3 tablespoons creamy horseradish 1 (.87-oz.) pkg. brown gravy mix 3 medium carrots, cut in half lengthwise and into 2-inch pieces 6 to 8 small red potatoes (1 lb.), scrubbed, quartered 1 medium stalk celery, cut in half lengthwise and into 2-inch pieces 1/2 cup water 1/2 teaspoon salt Dash coarse ground black pepper...

Ingredients 1 box (16.25 oz) Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix (or your favorite flavor) Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box Large tray or cardboard covered with wrapping paper and plastic food wrap or foil 1 container Betty Crocker™ Whipped fluffy white frosting 1 cup flaked or shredded coconut 1 large black gumdrop 1 large green gumdrop 3 pieces red shoestring licorice 4 semisweet chocolate chips...

Ingredients 3 cups chopped peeled apples (3 medium) 3 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 2 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 3 to 4 tablespoons whipping cream 1/4 teaspoon maple flavor Preparation Heat oven to 350°F....

Ingredients 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ sugar cookie mix 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 egg 1 cup white vanilla baking chips 1 cup M&M’s® chocolate candies Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cookie mix, butter and egg with spoon until soft dough forms. Stir in white vanilla baking chips and 1/2 cup of the candies. Press dough in bottom of pan....

Preparation “This small town is in an amazing part of France where the Alps come together to form a valley and one of the cleanest lakes in Europe is there to greet you. Not only is the scenery to die for, but the service and food at Abbaye de Talloires, a wonderful local hotel and event venue, will leave your guests’ mouths watering for days.” -Meena Lee, 5th Avenue Weddings & Events...

With a distinctive juxtaposition of ancient traditions and groundbreaking technology, Japan has always been an alluring destination for visitors. With stunning natural landscapes, a world-class food scene, trendy fashion, one-of-a-kind shopping, and electrifying pop culture, there is a reason for everyone to experience Japan at least once in their lifetime. Ready to go? Just one more thing to keep in mind – Japanese etiquette and customs. That distinctly Japanese way of life that is part intimidating for first-time visitors, and part “I’m definitely not at home and this so exciting!...