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It’s fun to try something new. That’s what most people would say, including Mr. JOC, but I actually tend to stick to things that I’m used to. I always order the same flavored ice cream, the same kind of sandwich I like for years, and of course, the same avocado toast. Without Mr. JOC around, I think my avocado toast would be very basic. Although nothing wrong with the same avocado toast, life is just decidedly more interesting when you experience something new....

At a typical Japanese meal, you can often find an alluring variety of small plates that offers a blast of flavors. These tasty sides include a type of simmered preserved dish known as Tsukudani. Intensely flavored, tsukudani is very much like tsukemono (Japanese pickles). Both play an important role in complementing, contrasting, and accentuating a meal all at once. Today I will share the most classic Tsukudani recipe – Baby Sardine Tsukudani or Jako no Tsukudani (じゃこの佃煮)....

Preparation Does this scenario sound familiar: There are 150 people you’d like to invite to your wedding but space limitations at the chapel you booked leave only enough room for 75. Or, in another scenario, you’ve always dreamed of a small, immediate-family-only ceremony, followed by a dance-til-you-drop party for 200 later that night or another weekend. In both situations, you want to invite fewer people to the ceremony than to the reception....

Ingredients 2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix 2/3 cup whipping (heavy) cream 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 4 cups thinly sliced apples (about 4 medium) 1/4 cup Original Bisquick™ mix 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon firm margarine or butter 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon About 2 tablespoons cinnamon apple jelly Preparation Heat oven to 425°. Stir 2 cups Bisquick mix, the whipping cream and granulated sugar until soft dough forms; shape into a ball....

Ingredients Reynolds™ Parchment Paper 1 pouch Betty Crocker™ Sugar Cookie Mix Butter and egg called for on cookie mix pouch 2 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 12 caramels, unwrapped 1 tablespoon milk 1 cup hot fudge topping 36 Pecan halves Preparation Make cookie dough as directed on package, stirring in flour. Roll dough into 1-inch balls; place about 2 inches apart on Reynolds Parchment Paper lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375°F 11 to 12 minutes or until set....

Ingredients 1 cut-up whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 lb)* 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 medium stalk celery with leaves, cut up 1 medium carrot, cut up 1 small onion, cut up 1 sprig fresh parsley 4 1/2 cups cold water Preparation In 4-quart Dutch oven or stockpot, place chicken. Add remaining ingredients; heat to boiling. Skim foam from broth; reduce heat. Cover; simmer about 45 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut to bone (at least 165°F)....

I can’t wait to share this delicious Chocolate Gateau, also known as gâteau au chocolat (ガトーショコラ) that I made over the weekend. Indulge yourself with this rich, dense, yet moist, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake. It’s utterly divine! Valentine’s Day in Japan I thought I should share how we celebrate Valentine’s Day in Japan as it’s a bit different from the U.S. Valentine’s Day was first introduced to Japan in 1936 by the confectionery company Morozoff....

Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or cardamom 1/3 cup whipping cream 48 miniature chocolate chips Red, black and yellow decorator sugar crystals Preparation In large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy; stir in vanilla. In small bowl, stir together flour, soda and cinnamon....

Ingredients 1 cup sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats 1 cup miniature candy-coated milk chocolate baking bits 1/2 cup softened butter 2 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 3 egg Preparation In medium bowl, mix sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In 1-quart jar with tight-fitting lid, place mixture; tap lightly to pack....

Ingredients 1/2 cup mayonnaise (do not use salad dressing) 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish 1/2 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 3 tablespoons water 3 cups corn flakes cereal, crushed (about 1 2/3 cups) 4 cod fillets (4 to 6 oz each) 1/4 cup vegetable oil Preparation In small bowl, mix mayonnaise, onion and pickle relish. Cover; refrigerate. Meanwhile, in shallow dish, mix flour and salt....

Ingredients 1 box (15.25 oz) Betty Crocker™ Delights Super Moist™ Carrot Cake Mix 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup oil 4 eggs 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup granulated sugar Powdered sugar Preparation Heat oven to 350° F. Spray 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and 3 of the eggs with electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Spread in pan....

Ingredients Sharpened pencil Sugar ice cream cone Pipe cleaner (chenille stem) Table knife Creamy peanut butter Cheerios™ cereal Birdseed Preparation Use the pencil to poke a hole in the pointed end of the ice cream cone. Twist a knot in the end of the pipe cleaner. Thread the pipe cleaner into the ice cream cone and out the hole (the knot will hold the pipe cleaner in place). Use the table knife to spread the peanut butter on the outside of the cone....

Ingredients 1 bottle (750 ml) champagne, chilled 1 bottle (750 ml) prosecco wine, chilled 4 cups (32 oz) orange juice, chilled 4 cups (32 oz) peach juice, chilled 4 cups (32 oz) kiwi-strawberry juice, chilled Preparation Open champagne and wine; place bottles in ice buckets filled with ice to keep cold, if desired. Pour each fruit juice into separate clear glass bottle or pitcher. Set out champagne flutes for guests to self-serve....

Ingredients 1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil 1/4 cup fat-free cholesterol-free egg product 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon anchovy paste 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped 1 lb boneless beef top sirloin steak, 1 inch thick 1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper 1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces 1 cup garlic-flavored croutons 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (2 oz) Preparation Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat....

This chicken and our Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken are wonderful recipes for potlucks or lazy dinners that require minimal prep time! What is Crack Chicken? Crack Chicken isn’t the most appealing name for the recipe but it suits this recipe perfectly. The recipe gets its name for being SOO addictive. You just cannot stop eating it. Pull-apart tender chicken breast in a cheesy seasoned cream cheese mixture. Served with homemade coleslaw on a bun....

Ingredients 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix 3/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1 cup caramel sauce 1 container Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting 2 tablespoons caramel sauce Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat all Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally....

Preparation I have always loved hanging stockings for the holidays, and have wonderful memories of the ones my mother made for us when we were growing up. She always sewed our Christmas dresses, and I fondly remember one year when I was given a navy-blue velvet dress and a velvet stocking adorned with ecru lace to match. Our stockings were filled with sensible gifts: tangerines, lady apples, a candy cane or two, or maybe a box of Cracker Jack....

Preparation Vow renewals are hot right now, with everyone from Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Alec and Hilaria Baldwin doing one. It’s not hard to see why couples-in Hollywood or not-love the idea: A vow renewal is a celebration of a longstanding relationship that two people got right. So, does that mean the occasion warrants a gift? If you’ve been invited to a couple’s vow renewal and are unsure whether or not you need to bring a present along, read on....

Ingredients 2 cups of Original Bisquick™ mix 1 cup of milk 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 teaspoon of cinnamon Non-stick spray Preparation In a large bowl, mix together Bisquick, milk, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Prepare your 3-4 quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Pour your Bisquick mixture into slow cooker. In a separate bowl mix together the sugar and cinnamon until well combined....

Ingredients 1 package (16 ounces) hot roll mix 1 egg 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened 1 cup water 1 3/4 cups grated Asiago cheese 1 teaspoon red food color 1 egg, beaten 1/3 cup olive or vegetable oil 3 tablespoons basil pesto Preparation Heat oven to 375°. Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. Make roll mix as directed on package, using 1 egg, the butter and water, and adding cheese to dough when mixing....