Snacks and activity ideas for seniors to enjoy in January

Mandarin orange muffin

[Just mix in one bag] Easy Mandarin Orange Muffins made with pancake mix

Just as the classic scene of eating mandarins under a kotatsu suggests, mandarins are one of the quintessential fruits of winter, familiar to many.

This is a simple muffin that makes luxurious use of those mandarins, made with pancake mix.

You’ll use three mandarins: slice one into rounds, and cut the remaining two into quarters.

In a bag, add egg, granulated sugar, and milk, then squeeze in the juice from the mandarin rounds.

Add the pancake mix and combine.

Pour into cups, arrange the cut mandarin pieces on top, and bake until done.

Pay attention to mixing the dry ingredients to avoid lumps and to arranging the mandarins attractively.

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Banana Omelette

[Microwave for 1 Minute!] Easy Omelette Recipe: Fluffy Banana Omelette

Why not try making banana omelets with a fluffy texture that are easy for seniors to eat? All you do is mix the batter ingredients in order, pour onto parchment paper, shape into circles, and microwave! Once they’re cooked, cover with plastic wrap and chill, then top with whipped cream, bananas, and any fruit you like, and they’re ready to serve.

A drizzle of chocolate syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar adds a stylish touch, too! If you’re getting tired of New Year’s traditional Japanese flavors, this menu is highly recommended.

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Mochi French Toast

[Simple Fluffy and Melty] French Toast with Leftover Mochi

When you think of French toast, you probably imagine using sliced bread, but here we use mochi for an extra-soft finish.

First, cut the mochi into small pieces, add milk, and heat it in the microwave.

Stir until the mixture comes together, then add eggs and sugar and mix again.

Finally, cook it in a buttered frying pan, shaping it as it sets, until done.

The softness varies greatly depending on the proportions, so aim for a good balance between tenderness and ease of eating.

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steamed pork bun

[Toddler Meal] Easy Fake Pork Buns Using Pancake Mix | Simple Recipe and How-To for Moms and Babies, Great for First-Timers

With the spread of convenience stores, nikuman (steamed pork buns) quickly became a quintessential winter tradition.

Variations like anman (sweet red bean buns), pizzaman, and curry-man—derived from nikuman—are now standard items too.

How about making and eating nikuman together? They’re surprisingly easy to prepare.

For the dough, you’ll need bread flour, cake flour, baking powder, dry yeast, salt, sugar, and so on.

You can also make them using a bread machine or pancake mix.

For the filling, the basics are ground meat, onion, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms.

You can also customize them to your liking—shrimp buns or yakisoba buns are great twists!

Tofu Mitarashi Dango

How to Make Tofu Mitarashi Dango: Chewy, Soft, and Absolutely Delicious Mitarashi Dango Made Healthily with Tofu – by Cooking Expert Yukari

Here’s a healthy mitarashi dango recipe made with tofu that you’ll love! It’s a great idea that older adults who enjoy traditional Japanese sweets may also appreciate.

Mix shiratamako (glutinous rice flour) with silken tofu until the dough is about as firm as an earlobe, then shape it into small balls.

Boil them in water; once they float and are cooked, transfer them to cold water to cool.

For the mitarashi sauce, put all the ingredients in a saucepan and heat until it thickens—done.

If you’re making these for a group snack activity, it’s safer to shape the dumplings flat without skewers—highly recommended! You can also lightly grill them to add a toasty aroma and deepen the flavor.

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Mochi Donuts

[Only 2 Ingredients] Make Crispy-Chewy Donuts with Kirimochi! / [syun cooking]

While mochi is an indispensable New Year’s food in January and something you want to eat as a lucky charm, you also have to be careful about how you eat it.

By using mochi as an ingredient for donuts, you can enjoy its unique texture and casually savor mochi in a tasty way.

Finely cut the mochi, heat it in the microwave with water, and mix well to break it down.

Then combine this mochi with pancake mix.

Shape the dough into rounds and fry slowly at a low temperature until done.

If you find the flavor a bit plain, try toppings like sugar or chocolate for an extra touch.

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butter mochi

If you're tired of plain mochi, try this! Easy microwave butter mochi recipe #kirimochi #buttermochi #NewYearHolidays

This is butter mochi made using leftover kirimochi (cut rice cakes), notable for its sweetness and soft texture.

Because butter and egg are mixed in, even people who are wary of traditional mochi may find it easy to eat.

The steps are simple: put the mochi and water in a heatproof bowl and microwave until softened, then mix in sugar, egg yolk, a pinch of salt, and butter.

Add potato starch, microwave again, then transfer the mixture onto plastic wrap dusted with potato starch, shape it, let it cool slightly, and cut to finish.

Note that since it’s made with egg and water, it doesn’t keep as well as plain mochi.

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