2021 Food Trends Part One

Since more people are working from home and some students doing remote learning, there has been more attention given to "what's for breakfast?" It no longer has to be a meal "on the run."

An Easy Day Starter 

Banana Buttermilk Pancakes
Cook's note: A recipe worth trying making your breakfast a little more special. The  secret ingredient making pancakes fluffy-buttermilk. Each pancake stack was drizzled with syrup. They reheat easily in the toaster. 

For me the question was "to top or not? What do you think? 
Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup ripe mashed bananas (2)
• 1 cup low fat buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon softened butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Optional 1/3 cup macadamia nuts sprinkled on top

Directions:

• Combine first 5 ingredients with a whisk and set aside.
• Combine buttermilk, bananas, egg, vanilla, butter and brown sugar with a whisk.
• Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients. Whisk only until combined. Do not over mix. 
• Stir in nuts if using and let batter rest 30 minutes. 
• Use 1/4 cup batter at a time for pancakes on a hot buttered griddle.
  

Baking Tips; 

Buttermilk substitute: To make buttermilk in a pinch, combine 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar. Let the mixture stand for 5 to 10 minutes then use in the recipe.

Jarcuterie

Yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like: single-serving charcuterie boards packed into a cute little jar or container. Also called graze bouquets, jarcuterie is just what we needed in the age of social distancing, since the last thing we want on the table is a communal cheese board with shared tongs and knives. It also helps you manage your portions (unless you’re helping yourself to a second or third jar anyway…)
Be sure to add a little piece dark chocolate to the jar-I see this photo is missing that.

These jarcuterie jars hold a variety of valentine candies. 

Cook's Notes: To keep the cost down for jars consider this recycling idea. 

OUI product (French Style Yogurt) comes in small glass jars. After enjoying your French style yogurt rinse clean jars and save for your next jarcuterie gathering. They are small but it could work with refills available. 

Mini Bread Bowls from foodnetwork.com

Feel free to double-dip. These mini bread bowls are single servings.
Directions:
Mix half of a 10-ounce box of frozen chopped spinach (thawed and squeezed dry) with 3/4 cup chopped canned artichoke hearts, 4 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, and salt and pepper to taste. Cut off the tops of 8 dinner rolls and hollow out the insides. Fill with the dip and serve with veggies

Plant Based Foods-
The rise of plant based based diets is gathering momentum, a term becoming more popular. People are waking up and becoming more conscious about their daily choices. There has been a growing focus not only on the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet, but also the environmental concerns of diet and how important it is on our planet for people to eat plant-based.
This is one of the newest cookbooks to hit the market. The recipes are easy to follow with a dazzling array of accompanying photos for each recipe. The book make a great gift for those looking to make healthier food choices. 

https://shop.americastestkitchen.com/plant-based-cookbook.html

     Part Two Food Trends 2021