Holiday Foods and Trends
By Chef Andre Carthen
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…and this year it’s been one politically f-up year, so it needs to get better! The holidays are supposed to be a time of love and goodwill, of joy and gratefulness. Certainly not a time of political unrest, mistrust, and fear!
Between having rights, losing rights, fighting for rights, and being told to celebrate diversity, all while they’re banning books and campaigning against gender equality. It’s extremely difficult to know where we even stand. Talk about one step forward, two steps back, and the only direction we seem to be moving in is spiraling down. Whose rights are we concerned with?
About now you’re wondering, what does this have to do with the holidays and food? I’m getting there, just needed Waze to do a redirect through all the political construction. For many, the holidays can be very stressful and even disappointing. And what do we do when we are stressed? Yes, that’s right EAT!
While there are many good reasons to overindulge this holiday season politics should not be one of them. Nor should we allow politics to stop us from looking as fabulous as we possibly can.
Below you will find some suggestions on how to utilize a few of the rights we still have for this holiday season. Keep in mind, that these are all meant to make things easier and return the holidays back to a more carefree time of family, friends, gratefulness, and love.
Let’s begin with the easiest, Go out to EAT!
Done, no fuss, no mess, split the bill, see you next year!
This next one takes a little planning.
A progressive Holiday Dinner Party.
This only works if you are near each other, OR as a potluck where each couple is assigned a particular dinner course…appetizer & cocktails, soup/salad, entree, desserts….
The progressive house-to-house plan is fun, takes more planning, and may need designated drivers. (safety first!)
This one, while meant to make things easier will drive a control freak crazy!
I’m admitting I fall into this category. When I host, I like for things to be a certain way and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, this process places all the stress on one person, so much for stress-free. Hopefully, this combination suggestion will help alleviate some of the stress.
Comfort Food POTLUCK
I find that one of the biggest problems with potlucks is aesthetics. All those different serving plates and bowls messing up your color theme…Nope, not having it! So, plan on doing your oh-so-fabulous hosting {as a comfort food potluck}. Have the guest bring their favorite holiday comfort food, all on White serving plates and bowls. Now for those who refuse to play by the rules, and there’s always one. You have extra white dishes set aside to transfer their contribution to. This way you’ve fixed the visual and your guest can return home with leftovers on their plate. Stopping them from borrowing your Tupperware, which you know you’ll never see again. Don’t you love it when you get a 2-for-1? Supply a plate and go home with it and leftovers, SCORE!
Food Trend
The exciting thing about Trend is its health benefits.
When it comes to food trends, the hot ticket this year is GINGER! This aromatic root is mostly prized for its medicinal purposes. Ginger native to Asia has been used to help treat the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and painful menstrual periods. It’s also been used as a cooking spice for at least 4,400 years. As part of the well-being trend, we’re seeing ginger popping up in wellness drinks, kombucha, teas, baked goods, biscuits, puddings, and cereals, with many brands saying it’s fast becoming their bestselling flavor.
Below you will find some of my favorite Holiday Comfort Foods, I hope you try them and let me know how they turned out?
Also, please visit Yourhometv.com and search Sunday Dinner / Friday Night to view my cooking show
Wishing all a delicious holiday season!
Chef Andre’ Carthen
(written before election results)
