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What’s the best part about deep fried Chicken Katsu? Of course the golden crispy katsu shell with the juicy chicken! I am getting hungry just thinking about it. Besides enjoying by itself, another way that I love to enjoy this satisfying dish is between 2 slices of toast as crispy chicken sandwich. Have you had it before? Maybe in Japan? I look forward to eating the katsu sandwich the following day after cooking and I always make sure that we have enough leftover so that everyone in my family get to enjoy (or more like I get to enjoy)....

Preparation The wine grape sauvignon blanc has never been more popular: It’s planted on more than 275,000 acres of vineyards all over the world. Odds are that you’ve had a sip or more in your glass at some point. You may even have a bottle in your wine rack right now and not know it; depending to where it’s grown, it may go by other names. Get familiar with the many faces of sauvignon blanc and learn which regional styles you like most....

Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots or onion 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper 3/4 cup dry white wine 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes, undrained 1 dried bay leaf 1 lb grouper or other mild-flavored firm fish fillets, cut into serving pieces 1 1/2 lb small fresh mussels in shells, scrubbed, debearded...

Ingredients 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ chocolate chip cookie mix Butter and egg called for on cookie mix pouch 1/2 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting (from 16-oz container) 2 oz (from 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. Remove 3/4 cup of the cookie dough; set aside....

Ingredients 4 cups Honey Nut Chex™ cereal 1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts 1/3 cup roasted salted sunflower nuts or hulled pumpkin seeds (pepitas) 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon warm water 3/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) 3/4 cup raisins Preparation In large microwavable bowl, mix cereal, peanuts and sunflower nuts; set aside. In small bowl, mix honey and warm water. Stir in salt, cumin and red pepper until blended....

Hakone is a beautiful resort area known for its hot springs southwest of Tokyo. It is easily accessible via train or car. With over 100 onsen hotels and ryokans, plenty of museums, and many other activities to do, it’s a popular destination for both Japanese and foreign visitors from abroard. If you’re taking the train to visit the Hakone area, your first stop will be Hakone-Yumoto station. How to Get to Hakone-Yumoto Depending on where you’re trying to get to in Hakone, you can drive via either the Gotemba or Odawara route....

Ingredients 2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 cups shredded peeled sweet potato (1 large) 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 eggs 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened...

Preparation If you want beautiful, full, diverse planters without the hefty price tag, you may consider propagating your plants. Propagation is the process of growing new plants from clippings of existing plants. While it’s a fairly simple process requiring little more than soil and sunlight, some may want to help Mother Nature along with a rooting hormone. Here’s what you need to know about the technique. RELATED: PROPAGATE PLANTS LIKE A PRO WITH THIS COUNTERTOP INCUBATOR...

Ingredients 2 pints mint chocolate chip reduced-fat ice cream, slightly softened 1 package (6 ounces) ready-to-use chocolate-flavored pie crust 1 1/4 cups crushed chocolate-covered mint cookies 1 cup fat-free chocolate fudge topping Preparation Spread 1 pint of the ice cream in pie crust. Sprinkle 1 cup of the crushed cookies over ice cream. Cover and freeze 1 hour. Spread remaining pint of ice cream over cookies. Cover and freeze about 3 hours or until firm....

Myoga (ミョウガ, みょうが, 茗荷) are young shoots and emerging flower buds of the ginger family. Native to Japan, China, and Korea, it is harvested for its unopened flower bulbs and flavorful shoot. The buds are slightly larger than thumb-size and come in striking pinkish-bronze outer layers. Other names include myoga ginger and Japanese ginger. What Is Myoga Myoga (Zingiber mioga) is a perennial plant associated with summer. It’s used as a topping for salads, chilled tofu, somen, udon noodles, or mixed into steamed rice....

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup frozen peas and carrots 1 cup chopped cooked chicken 1 can (10 1/2 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup 1 cup Original Bisquick™ mix 1/3 cup milk Paprika, if desired Preparation In 3-quart saucepan, place 1 1/2 cups milk, the frozen peas and carrots, chicken and soup. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce to a simmer. In medium bowl, mix Bisquick mix and 1/3 cup milk until soft dough forms....

Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter 1 small sweet onion, finely chopped (1/3 cup) 1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (4 oz) 1 egg 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon sesame seed, toasted 2 tablespoons butter, melted Preparation Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 18 miniature muffin cups with cooking spray. In 7-inch skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Cook onion in butter 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender....

When it comes to meal planning, especially a Japanese-style Ichiju Sansai (one soup three dishes) setup, I admit that I’m guilty of giving most of my attention to the main. I realize it shouldn’t be that way! A fresh-tasting vegetable side like this Simmered Fried Tofu and Greens (油揚げと青菜の煮浸し) is sometimes the best part of the meals! Not only it contributes to the overall nutrients but it also goes well with many Japanese and Asian meals....

Ingredients 3 cans (28 oz each) baked beans, drained 8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled (1/2 cup) 1 large sweet onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups) 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup ketchup 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce Preparation Spray 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix all ingredients. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 hours. Related Video

Ingredients 1 can (14 oz) whole berry cranberry sauce 1 cup chopped white onion 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons salt 2 to 3 lb boneless pork shoulder 3 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton) or water Dash of salt 1 cup instant polenta 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese Preparation Spray slow cooker with cooking spray....

Ingredients 1 bag (15 oz) Chex Mix™ traditional snack mix 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 3/4 cup butter 2 cups salted peanuts 4 cups popped popcorn 1 cup M&M’s® chocolate candies Preparation Heat oven to 350°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil. Spray foil with cooking spray. Place snack mix in large ovenproof bowl. In 1-quart saucepan, heat brown sugar and butter over medium heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil, stirring frequently....

Today I’m sharing a very popular Hawaiian dish called Ahi Tuna Poke (Pokē) which consists of cubed raw ahi tuna/yellowfin tuna marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, sea salt, some seaweed, and chili pepper. Traditional poke consists of sliced fillet served with sea salt, seaweed, and limu, but there are many variations of the modern Poke like my recipe today. My husband loves Poke and we sometimes prepare differently with diced tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and so on....

Ingredients 2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup hot water 2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa 3/4 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 20 individually wrapped red cinnamon hard candy disks, unwrapped 20 individually wrapped yellow butterscotch hard candy disks, unwrapped 60 pretzel sticks, broken in half 48 miniature marshmallows 24 toothpicks...

Ingredients 8 oz uncooked spaghetti 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 package (1 lb) boneless skinless chicken breast halves 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 can (19 oz) Progresso™ Vegetable Classics hearty tomato soup 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (2 oz) Preparation Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook garlic and chicken in oil 3 to 4 minutes on each side until chicken is light brown....

Preparation When it comes to the elegant French dessert known as charlotte, Martha seems to know no bounds. The basic concept-line a mold with sponge cake, ladyfingers, biscuits or cookies; then spoon in some sort of filling, whether fruit, mousse or custard-is endlessly adaptable. She’s made individual charlottes with brioche and pears, a gorgeous green charlotte with store-bought ladyfingers and pistachios, and even a muffin-tin version with thinly sliced bread and sour cherries....