Crisp Warm Sesame Mochi with Coconut Caramel

Mochi is the Japanese word used to describe the savory or sugared snack made from glutinous sweet rice that has been pounded into a paste. It’s also the name of one of my dogs, so I guess it’s safe to say I like it a lot. A celebratory delicacy, it is an official food of Japanese New Year and is responsible for a small but significant fatality rate. At that time, annually, so many old people die from choking on the treats—the chewy substance gets stuck in their throats—that the count