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When we visit Japan, I love trying all the different beers that are available in the local supermarkets and grocery stores. There are hundreds of beers that are only available in Japan (at least not easily accessible in the US) and being a beer lover, it’s always an adventure to try new beers. You’re probably familiar with Asahi, Sapporo, and Kirin beers but there are many popular craft breweries in Japan as well and it’s not too hard to find their beer throughout Japan....

Japanese people drink a bowl of miso soup every day, sometimes even twice a day. We believe that consuming miso soup is a home remedy that keep us strong, hydrated, and nourished. Our enthusiasm for it never wanes because we make miso soup with ingredients that are often seasonal. It serves as a reminder of the changing seasons and a way to express gratitude for nature’s bounty. Since the 30th day (三十日) is read as misoka (みそか) in Japanese, the Japan Federation of Miso Manufacturers established this day as Miso Day (味噌の日)....

Jwala Finger peppers are a small, finger-shaped chili pepper commonly used in Indian cuisine. They are considered to be a hot pepper, with a Scoville rating of around 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units (SHU). This makes them hotter than a jalapeno pepper but less hot than a cayenne pepper. The Jwala is the most popular chile in India, adding great flavor and spice to many Indian dishes. The word “Jwala” means “Volcano” in Hindi, and they are commonly found in the Gujarat region of India....

Karashi (辛子, からし) is Japanese hot mustard made of a mixture of crushed mustard seeds of Brassica juncea and horseradish. It’s used as a condiment or as a seasoning in Japanese cuisine, such as oden, gyoza, and tonkatsu. Karashi is usually sold in powder form (see the photo above) or paste form in tubes (see the photo below). Karashi is a spicier and more potent condiment than mild yellow mustard....

As I’ve just wrapped up with the Japanese New Year celebration, I’m being reminded that Lunar New Year (or Spring Festival 春節) is just around the corner! What is Lunar New Year? Originating in China, Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Singapore, and Malaysian communities. The New Year celebration was traditionally celebrated for 15 days....

If you have been on Pinterest lately, you might have noticed One Skillet Chicken Dinners are popping up everywhere! I don’t tend to follow food trends – never jumped on the cauliflower rice/pizza crust bandwagon, I still don’t make anything with kale or quinoa because I simply don’t like them, but the One Skillet Chicken Dinners is one trend I loooove. In fact, I posted my first one skillet chicken dinner my second month of blogging: Apple Juice and Dijon Braised Cheddar Chicken with Broccoli and Rice....

PIN THIS RECIPE TO SAVE FOR LATER The BEST Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe I LOVE Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Potatoes are one of my favorite foods on the planet. And while it seems traditional mashed potatoes get most of the love, these Mashed Sweet Potatoes are every bit as delicious. I could eat them all day, every day. How to make Mashed Sweet Potatoes. To make the BEST, luxuriously creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes, the humble sweet potato is boiled until fork tender then mashed with ample butter, warmed milk, sour cream, chives, a splash of maple syrup and ample seasonings: cinnamon, garlic, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper and just a hint of nutmeg and cloves....

Let’s talk about how to make three bean salad, shall we? I’ve had many, many three bean salads, and they’re always popular. One definitive thing I can say about these salads is that no two three bean salads are alike. Why? Because there are so many different ways to make them. So many potential ingredients to include. So many fun and flavorful combinations. The point of this post is to give you my preferred three bean salad recipe, but also to show you how to customize it and make it your own by breaking it down into a method....

Culver’s ButterBurgers The chef uses a weight to press down a spatula over the meat, flattening the burger nice and thin, allowing it to crisp up slightly around the edges of the patty. Culver’s is a restaurant chain known for their ButterBurgers, so-called because they butter their buns before toasting them crispy. They’re also known for their Frozen Custard. Culver’s Frozen Custard is an amazing thing, my friends. Think ice cream, but seriously good - very creamy....

Readers often ask us about our favorite San Francisco restaurants worthy of a stop during their visit. Not sure why we never shared the list on JOC before but here it is. We’ll continue to add or remove from the list based on our own dining experiences. We typically eat in the city only for special occasions like birthdays or other celebrations. This list of restaurants is not what we typically eat so you don’t see many casual restaurants here....

As the weather chills and you spend more time in the comfort of your home, I thought it would be nice to share a fun Japanese dumpling recipe that will keep you busy in the kitchen. You – and maybe your kids too – get to play with flour, making the dough from scratch, and stuffing the dumplings with your favorite fillings! I love making Oyaki (おやき) – Japanese Stuffed Dumplings – this time of year....

Garnish and Serve. Garnish with extra bean sprouts, roasted peanuts, chili flakes, and serve. Also, it’s done in under 30 minutes! You can make it in different ways, and you’ll find variations from restaurant to restaurant and cook to cook, as it is with a lot of Thai food. It isn’t traditionally spicy, but I like to give my own spicy spin to the dish. The key to a good Pad Thai recipe, to me, is the fresh ingredients....

Tacos, a Mexican classic is always a hit with adults and kids alike. Crunchy flour/corn tortilla, delicious filling and topped with a number of fixins! A riot of flavors and texture in every bite! I doubt anyone would not like it. We love Mexican cuisine!! I find it has a lot of similarities to Indian cuisine except for some specific chile peppers. Spices like cumin are very frequently used in both....

Easy pasta dinners are weeknight heroes we all need more of. If you’re looking for more dinner homeruns, you’re family will love Bacon Pasta, Mushroom Pasta, Pasta Primavera, Rigatoni in Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce, Homemade Mac and Cheese, Weeknight Spaghetti, and Chicken Parmesan Pasta. Pin this recipe to save for later spaghetti alla Puttanesca video What is pasta puttanesca? Puttanesca Pasta (also known as “aulive and chiapparielle” (olives and capers) is a traditional Italian pasta from Naples that’s said to have been created by Neapolitan ladies of the night....

Looking to make a full-size turkey this year? Check out all you need to know to prepare it here. Watch: Roasting a Turkey Breast Roast Turkey Breast Ingredients Now that you know exactly what turkey breast to purchase, let’s take a closer look at what else you’ll need to make this Roast Turkey Breast recipe (measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post): For the turkey breast: For the herb butter: For the turkey gravy: How to Roast Turkey in Oven Roasting turkey breast is easy!...

How to Make Pineapple Habanero Salsa - the Recipe Method First, slice in half your peeled and rinsed tomatillos, jalapeños and habanero peppers. Set them onto a lightly oiled baking sheet. With summer around the corner, it seems like just the right time to re-introduce the world to this incredible appetizer. We also may or may not have it on good authority that this salsa pairs perfectly with margaritas and cold cervezas if you’d like to serve it on Cinco de Mayo!...

Typically when we have a “Japanese” dinner at home, one of the dishes is usually a baked or grilled fish. My children love all kinds of fish, from Hamachi Kama (yellowtail collar) to Miso Cod. One of their favorite baked fish is Salted Salmon (Shiojake/Shiozake). Sometimes when we have leftovers, I would use them to make Salmon Fried Rice the next day. It is one of the most convenient and satisfying ways to cook a one-pan meal for the family....

Our family loves sushi. Among many different kinds of sushi, one of our children’s favorites is Scallop Sushi. Not only do scallops taste good, but the best part is that farmed scallops are considered sustainable/eco-friendly choice. When the scallop sashimi is really good quality, the flesh is slightly firm but tender, and the flavor is sweet with a clean finish. To enjoy scallop sushi at home, all you need to do is to defrost the scallop, make sushi rice, and make nigiri sushi topped with the scallop....

Have you ever had tender smoked beef ribs? It’s one of the items we look forward to the most when we eat at Brazilian barbecues. When the ribs cart comes around, our mouths are already drooling and we couldn’t wait to devour them. Tender pieces of ribs that become more flavorful with each bite! When we looked into how to make the best smoked beef ribs at home, we were really surprised by how easy it was and how tasty they turned out....

Hand mix the meat mixture until everything is combined, but do not over mix. If you over mix with your hands, the meatballs can become mealy. Meatballs usually are. They’re the perfect bite, really, a big ball of seasoned ground meat, typically drenched in some sort of wonderful meatballs sauce or glaze. Drool. Just like this particular recipe. We’re talking Spicy Korean Chicken Meatballs. YES! They’re browned up in a hot pan, then transferred to the oven to cook through and finish up....