It has been five years since the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami and the associated nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. As a Japanese, looking at recent news and pictures of the disaster sites now and then, I felt so many emotions from within me. On this day, I especially think about a group of special women in my heart. The ladies in Nozomi Project....
I hope you are enjoying the bentos I have shared so far. Some of you might be wondering if I’m planning to share Japanese Character Bento (kyaraben キャラ弁) one day. If you are not familiar with Character Bento, take a look at this. The character bentos are really cute and I am sure my children will be excited to have such bentos. I can imagine the smile on their face each day as they open the bentos for lunch, being surprised by new characters....
Ingredients 40 tree- and star-shaped pretzel twists 20 caramels, unwrapped, each cut in half horizontally into 2 thin squares 40 pecan halves 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips 1/2 cup white vanilla baking chips Preparation Heat oven to 250°F. On large cookie sheet, place pretzels in single layer. Place caramel piece on center of each pretzel. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until caramels have softened. Remove from oven. Press pecan half into each caramel piece....
Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 2 lb round white potatoes (about 4 medium), peeled and thinly sliced 1/2 lb fully cooked ham, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups) 1 cup shredded American-Cheddar cheese blend (4 oz) 3 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 pint (2 cups) half-and-half Preparation In 4-quart Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Cook garlic in butter 1 minute, stirring occasionally, until softened....
Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup powdered sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract 2 egg yolks 16 drops green food color 2 1/4 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips 3 tablespoons whipping cream 3 tablespoons butter 18 thin rectangular crème de menthe chocolate candies, unwrapped, cut in half diagonally Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper....
Ingredients 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Preparation After removing cooked meat from skillet or pan, add oil to drippings in skillet. Stir in flour, scraping up brown particles. Cook over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture is light golden brown. Stir in milk. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is boiling and thickened....
Ingredients 3 3/4 cups vegetable broth 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice 1 bag (12 oz) frozen corn 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley Preparation Heat 1/3 cup of the broth to boiling in 10-inch skillet. Cook garlic in broth 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice and corn. Cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining broth....
Preparation Printed paper escort cards Bone folderLiquid dye Create a crisp crease in paper escort cards using a bone folder.Dip one corner of the paper into the dye, and let dry completely before dipping into another color.Note: If the paper wrinkles, iron it flat on the backside. Rit liquid dye (in teal and royal blue), $4.50 each; michaels.com. Related Video
Ingredients 1 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 cup baking cocoa 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg, beaten 1 cup milk 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup vanilla baking chips, melted 1 tablespoon sugar 1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries Preparation Heat oven to 375°. Grease 12 medium muffin cups, 2 3/4x1 1/4 inches, with shortening; or line muffin cups with paper baking cups and spray with cooking spray....
Ingredients 1 medium pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks 1 pint (2 cups) fresh strawberries, sliced 1 pint (2 cups) blueberries 1 small bunch (2 cups) seedless green grapes 1 bunch leaf lettuce 1/2 cup raspberry vinaigrette dressing 3 to 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled Preparation Mix pineapple, strawberries, blueberries and grapes in large bowl. Serve fruit mixture on lettuce. Drizzle with dressing. Top with cheese. Related Video
Ingredients 8 oz fresh green beans, broken into 2-inch pieces (2 cups) 1/2 medium red bell pepper, cut into 2x1/4-inch strips 1 tablespoon honey mustard Preparation In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, place beans in 1 inch water. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Boil uncovered 5 minutes. Cover and boil 5 to 10 minutes longer or until beans are crisp-tender; drain. Stir bell pepper and honey mustard into beans. Related Video
My family spent a week traveling to the northwestern part (北陸地方) of Japan, and our first stop was the historic city of Kanazawa (金沢). What makes this city special? Many of its buildings are still original as it’s one of the few large Japanese cities not damaged during the war. As a Japanese, I want to share the historical part of Japanese culture with my family so I looked forward to the trip very much....
One of the most popular onsen destinations in Hokkaido is Jozankei Onsen 定山渓温泉. Its close proximity to Sapporo and beautiful scenery make it an attractive destination for both Japanese and foreign visitors. Ready to check it out? Let’s go! Where is Jozankei Onsen Jozankei Onsen is located in the northern tip of Shikotsu-Toya National Park nearby Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido. It is surrounded by a lush green mountain landscape and the surrounding activities include skiing, fruit picking, and rafting....
Preparation Shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses shouldn’t be an afterthought, our experts warn. You’ll need plenty of time to pick out the perfect gown or gowns for your favorite women, the experts say. Why? Because in addition to shopping for a look or looks that flatter several different women’s bodies, sense of style, and hair and skin tone, you’ll also need to allot enough time for said dresses to actually be made....
cut the lotus root into a 2-inch length so it’s easy to work with. Next, cut out a V-shaped notch between two holes and along the length of the root. Continue cutting between the holes until you’ve cut around the entire outside of the root. The cross section of your lotus root should now resemble a flower. 3. Then, cut the root into ¼-inch slices (0.6 mm). Once you’ve sliced the lotus root, add the slices to a bowl with vinegared water (1 tsp rice vinegar and 2 cups water)....
Preparation Heartwarming, happy, and adorable—those are the three words that come to mind when Japanese maker Tsubasa Kuroda (or trikotri, as she goes by online) thinks about her specialty craft: pom-pom animals. Take a peek at her Instagram, and you’ll see the collection of her charming critters—plump little parakeets, fluffy hedgehogs and house cats, and smiley Shiba Inus. And whether they’re bundled in a basket or artfully pinned to a sweater lapel, the appeal of those furry faces is irresistible....
Hello everyone, Mr. JOC here to share a restaurant review. It’s been awhile since I’ve written one not because we’ve stopped trying new restaurants, but between learning how to make food videos and working on secret project “X”, I haven’t had time to do much else lately. Today the restaurant Jai Yun I am reviewing is quite unique. Located on the edge of San Francisco Chinatown, most people would walk past its nondescript exterior without noticing it....
Ingredients 1 box (16.9 oz) Betty Crocker™ Wild Blueberry Muffin & Quick Bread Mix 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 eggs 1 tablespoon lemon zest 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice Preparation Heat oven to 375°F. Grease bottom only of 8x4-inch loaf pan. Drain blueberries; rinse and set aside. In medium bowl, stir muffin mix, water, melted butter, eggs and lemon zest just until blended (batter will be lumpy)....
Ingredients 8 cups Rice Chex™ cereal 1 container (1.75 oz) Betty Crocker™ rainbow mix sprinkles (about 1/3 cup) 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces 1 bag (10 oz) miniature marshmallows 3/4 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 16-oz container) 1/2 cup white vanilla baking chips Preparation Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. Spray large bowl with cooking spray. Add cereal and 1/4 cup of the decors to bowl....
Ingredients 1 box (15.25 oz) Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ Yellow Cake Mix 1 box (4-serving size) lemon instant pudding and pie filling mix 3/4 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup water 4 eggs 2 cups powdered sugar 2 tablespoons butter, melted 3/4 cup orange juice Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube cake pan. In large bowl, beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, oil, water and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes....
