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Even if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, doesn’t the Land of Milk and Honey sound luscious? According to Bible and Talmud experts, The Land of Milk and Honey is a metaphor for Israel, the Promised Land and fertile fields.

The holy books of mainstream religions tend to be pretty thick, right? But the idea of a Land of Milk and Honey has survived and seared into our consciousness. Maybe the idea has survived because we all need the promise of a better day. The motive to create a more wonderful world for ourselves is a mighty reason to get up in the morning. And we'll keep moving (whether Moses is with us or not) as long as we have a happy place or another plateau we want or need to reach.

I’d be delighted if you’d share what the Land of Milk and Honey means to you.  While you contemplate, the idea, I do highly recommend nibbling on Land of Milk and Honey Muffins

Some things like chocolate and Hello Kitty are worth the price tag, don’t you think? Seriously, after a visit today to the Japanese American National Museum, I am in awe of how the universe rewards those who strive to bring goodness into our world. 

Shintaro Tsuji, the man responsible for the worldwide explosion of Hello Kitty, drew me to his photo with his kind smile.  His expression was one of sweet contentment. (Of course, life would be wonderful as a billionaire!)
 

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Once Upon A Time, in ancient Japan, an aromatic Asian citron named Yuzu-chan swayed in the breeze. Contemplating the sliver of crescent moon, the fruit thought of its Chinese ancestors. Many of Yuzu-chan’s family survived the trip via the Korean Peninsula. However, as in all journeys, there was great loss. Some seedlings did not survive. But as moonlight bounced on the tree branch where Yuzu-chan was nestled, he nearly burst with citrus pride. Thanks to those who’d survived the challenging journey, Japanese were now appreciating the wonders of yuzu. Condiments with yuzu zest and chili peppers provided fire on the tongue. Japanese confections were kissed by the presence of yuzu and brought many sighs of contentment.

The gentle wind rocked Yuzu-chan, the crickets sang a sleepy-time lullaby. As the moon slid behind a cloud like a paper-thin Japanese sliding door; Yuzu-chan dreamed of the day he and his family would adventure abroad and share the wonders of yuzu.

With the arrival of spring across the Northern Hemisphere, Japanese plum wine is spot on for sipping or pouring into cake. In Japan, flowering plums precede its more famous sakura cherry blossom cousin. Plum blossom viewing parties also commenced long before the idea of a cherry blossom viewing party came into fruition. The change in popularity occurred about the time political allegiances transpired. (When the capital of Japan moved from Nara to Kyoto. The current capital of Japan is Tokyo.) However, the Japanese plum blossom was never banished.

Plum blossoms may currently take second place to the cherry blossom in terms of popularity. But, Japanese plum blossom festivals and parties are sprinkled throughout Japan. The flower and fruit of the Japanese plum blossom continue to thrive in Japanese culture and cuisine.

Japanese yuzu citrus pucker passion commenced in 710 AD Japan. The Chinese import looks and tastes like a cross between a lemon and a lime. The pungent yuzu fruit remains popular today in Japan.  (Yuzu brightens, and punches up the flavors of both Japanese desserts and dishes.)

Chocolate – often affectionately called “choco” in Japan – is also wildly popular. Compared to yuzu, however, chocolate is a fairy new commodity in Japan. Milk chocolate made its debut with the Japanese audience in the early 1900s. From my Google Japan and Google USA research, it looks like white chocolate won over the hearts of Japanese girls as White Day was introduced in the 1970s. White Day is an attempt at equal affection expression.  Translation: In Japan...

Drunk on the joys of the season, I created Rum Glazed Cookie Cream Buns. Doughnut textured buns stuffed with cookie cream, smothered with rum glaze and topped with Japanese cookie crumbles, Rum Glazed Cookie Cream Buns are this Ninja Baker’s celebration of Christmastime dessert! The recipe is adapted from Pillsbury Bake-Off finalist, Megan Beimer’s winning Chocolate Doughnut Poppers. Her beauties are crammed with...

Little girls are made of, “Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice.” (According to a popular 19th century poem.) And so is my rendition of Southern Living’s sweet potato cakes. The White Chocolate Sweet Potato Pecan Topped Cakes I’ve made contain American sweet potatoes aka yams. (The ones with orange flesh typically served at Thanksgiving with dollops of melted marshmallows.) 

The American yam has many fine merits. But the purple skinned Japanese Satsuma-imo sweet potato is my favorite. One American potato expert deemed the Japanese Satsuma-imo as “too sweet.” But that just supports my case: The Japanese potato is the sweetest, “bestest” one! 

With a wave of a wand and an exclamation of “bibbidi-bobbidi-boo”, a pumpkin is enchanted and Cinderella’s carriage appears. Cinderella is swept off to a ball and swept off her feet by Prince Charming. At the stroke of midnight, all the riches disappear. Cinderella appears fated to sweep cinders from the hearth for the rest of her life. But, our soon-to-be princess is sure that, “Even if your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.”