Recipe Mutiny

Friday, June 28, 2019

Sweet Potato Lasagna Is Trending Big for Summer, But What Is It?

As we move into full-on BBQ mode for the warmer months, certain grilling and BBQ trends emerge. The team at Pinterest took a look at some of these very trends, calculated by search terms from their community of more than 70 million pinners.

It turns out, no matter what region or state you live in—red or blue—BBQ and summer foods transcend cultural and political divides with 83% identical search terms across the country. Californians, Idahoans, folks from Connecticut and Alabama are all searching for (mostly) the same types of 4th of July food, and recipe inspiration.

Even more surprising is what people are searching for this summer! Among the list of trending BBQ-related recipes were some standards like Instant Pot BBQ pulled pork, and avocado corn salad. But a few oddballs caught our eye, too, like meatballs with grape jelly and barbecue sauce (?!) and the #1 trending BBQ-related food, trending up over 5000% was Sweet Potato Lasagna.

Sweet potato lasagna is clearly having a moment, but is it really lasagna? Yes and no. It’s actually a bit closer to potato au gratin; layers of thinly sliced sweet potatoes in place of the pasta, and a creamy bechamel where the red sauce would normally go. From there you can layer in any other vegetables, with popular additions including spinach, summer squash, mushroom or sausage. And finally, sweet potato lasagna is generally topped with mozzarella or another melty Italian cheese.

Creamy and filling sweet potato lasagna makes the perfect BBQ side or starch, but can easily serve as the main course for a vegetarian crowd, too. And though it’s in no way keto-approved, it’s healthier than traditional lasagna with its heaps of pasta. See one of our favorite sweet potato lasagna recipes here.

The Top Trending BBQ-related Foods for Summer 2019 (according to Pinterest):

Sweet potato lasagna +5033%
Shrimp sausage corn potatoes +412%
Avocado corn salad +320%
Meatballs with grape jelly and bbq sauce +315%
BBQ pulled pork instant pot +167%
Vegan BBQ side dishes +153%
Korean BBQ +139%
Oven baked BBQ chicken drumsticks +123%
BBQ chicken tostadas +88%

Regional Favorites Trending on Pinterest.

Northeast: Broccoli salad
Midwest: Fruit pizza
South: Banana pudding
West: Rice Krispie treats

*Trends are calculated using normalized searches from May ‘18 to May ‘19. Top searches leading up to 4th of July, from June 24th ‘18 to July 4th ‘18. Top searches are leading up to July, from 6/28/18 – 7/3/18. Region 1 (Northeast): Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Region 2 (Midwest): Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri. Region 3 (South): Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana. Region 4 (West): Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii.

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How to Build the Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae Bar

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If you’re stumped on which dessert to serve at your next summer party, consider setting up an ice cream sundae bar. Ice cream is exactly what most people want when temperatures are climbing, thus making it the perfect solution. Even picky eaters love a good bowl of vanilla with sprinkles on top. Perhaps the biggest draw is that building them requires little to no effort for the host. All you have to do is lay out the ice cream flavors, toppings, sauces, bowls, and cones, and let your guests do the work.

But how exactly do you host an ice cream sundae bar that will really blow people away? It’s actually much easier than you think. We got the full scoop on ice cream party hosting below.

1. Keep the flavors nice and simple.

Chowhound

Your instinct might be to serve a ton of different flavors, but Mohan Kumar, co-owner of New York-based ice cream shop Oddfellows, tells Chowhound that when it comes to ice cream, less is always more.

“You don’t want to have more than two to three flavors,” he explains. “The flavors should be the base, but the toppings should be the highlight.”

Stick to the classics. Strawberry and chocolate are popular ice cream flavors that will always be hits. You might also want to serve a dairy-free option in addition to the basics, just in case you have any lactose-intolerant friends.

“Vanilla bean is a must,” says Kumar. “But in general, keep it simple.”

2. Having bowls and cones on hand is key.

Humphrey Slocombe’s Sweet & Salty 420 Sundae

“I believe a great ice cream sundae is the vessel we serve it in,” says Yolanda Diaz, head pastry chef at Geraldine’s in Austin. “It’s about the whole experience.”

Providing good serving “vessels” is the one step that’s going to require a bit more effort on your end. Sure, you could just set out a stack of red Solo cups and call it a day, but that’s going to impress no one. Instead, invest in a few nice bowls. They can be glass, but if you don’t want to spend too much money, there are plenty of stylish paper or plastic options you can find online or at party stores. Personally, we like these cone-inspired creations:

Greenco Ice Cream Dessert Bowls and Spoons (Set of 12), $11.13 on Amazon

I scream, you scream, we all scream for these adorable bowls.

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Our experts were divided on whether or not to offer actual cones. Kumar advises against it if your intention is purely sundaes.

“Sundaes should be in a bowl,” he explains. “That way you can get all your ice cream, toppings, and sauces in one bite with a spoon.”

Diaz thinks having cones on hand is a good option, in case your guests don’t want to go the full sundae route. At the end of the day, it all comes down to preference. Decide which experience you want your party-goers to have and stick to it.

Great Value Waffle Cone Bowls, 10 for $1.92 at Walmart

Have the best of both worlds with edible waffle cone bowls!

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3. Feel free to get crazy with your toppings—you can never have too many.

Chowhound

When we asked Diaz which toppings we should serve, she was nervous to recommend anything.

“Everyone has their own palate,” she says.

If you have a wide array of sweet, salty, and spicy offerings, there will be something to please everyone. Need inspiration? Some of Diaz’s favorites include chocolate-covered gummy bears, corn nuts, potato chips, sprinkles, and fresh fruit.

4. Offer a mix of crunchy and chewy toppings. The more texture, the better.

Chowhound’s Strawberry S’mores Sundae

“Texture is everything,” says Kumar, further explaining that every sundae should have four layers: Smooth ice cream, something crunchy, something gooey, and something fluffy.

A great example would be a base of vanilla ice cream, salty nuts, caramel sauce or fudge, all topped with whipped cream.

5. Whatever you do, don’t forget the sauces.

homemade chocolate Magic Shell ice cream shell topping

Chowhound’s Homemade Magic Shell

Sauces are the glue that brings an ice cream sundae bar together. Without them, your toppings and ice cream won’t meld the way they should. Kumar says you absolutely have to have at least one caramel offering, one chocolate offering, and whipped cream. From there, he recommends serving seasonal fruit compotes (a summertime peach or berry sauce would work perfectly).

If you really feel like getting adventurous, Diaz loves more exotic offerings like chocolate curry sauces, orange blossom whipped creams, and sesame caramels. As long as you have a few basics, you can get as kooky as you want. You can even try making your own Magic Shell style topping to impress your guests.

Friday Food Finds: Snickers & Twix Milk, Sake-To-Go, New Ben & Jerry’s, and More!

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You did it! The weekend has arrived, which can only mean one thing: Time to treat yo’self! Lucky for you, we have a hodgepodge of goodies, both edible and sippable, to kick off your Friday the right way. From ice cream and candy bar milk to canned sake and plantain chips, there is something for everyone from our Chub Chub Chowdown segment on the Taylor Strecker Show. Scroll down to get our official thoughts!

Twix and Snickers Milk

We really thought these were going to be amazing, but they both just tasted like chocolate milk to us. In fact, we may even prefer Hershey’s syrup or…wait for it…a powdered variety like Nesquik or Ovaltine. That being said, those who enjoy the sugary milk at the end of their cereal bowl will be in for a treat. These just weren’t for us. We’d rather eat our candy bars and leave the sipping to alcohol.

Morimoto Easy Cup Sake

We appreciate the concept of sake on the go, but weren’t too thrilled with the flavor profile. It’s a bit more tangy than other cold sakes (which are a bit smoother). This may be appealing to some folks, especially if you want something quick and portable for a picnic in the park, but it’s not something we’d rush to put in our shopping carts. The package design is amazing, though. We love how Morimoto appears from within the glass jar. Try it out and let us know what you think!

Amazi Plantain Chips (Cocoa) and Jackfruit Chews (Ginger + Turmeric)

We appreciate the overall vision of this brand and their commitment to quality ingredients. While the plantain chips were just okay, we really dug the jackfruit with turmeric and ginger. It may just take a bit for sensitive eaters to get used to the unfamiliar texture. Think of it as a weird dried fruit or tender, sweet beef jerky. There’s nothing to freak out about!

Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake Co. Classic Crumb Cake

Holy moly. This crumb cake is absurd in the best way possible. We could seriously eat it by the pound. The topping is particularly delicious because you can actually taste spices like cinnamon and cloves, without them being overpowering. What’s also great is that you can easily freeze the product and thaw it when hunger strikes. Dear dreams: I’d like to introduce you to your newest subject.

Ben & Jerry’s Pucker Upper Sorbet

I am a HUGE fan of the raspberry/lemon flavor profile, which is why this new Ben & Jerry’s sorbet was totally up my alley. In fact, I’d actually prefer that it have more of a tart flavor than what’s found in the lemonade swirl and sugar bites. Sean was obsessed with the texture, while it was a bit too sour for Taylor’s liking. You clearly can’t please everyone, but I was 100 percent here for it.

Jack Link’s Zero Sugar Beef Jerky

Good on Jack Link’s for getting in on the no-sugar jerky game. This was definitely delicious, but we’re not sure why black pepper isn’t listed under the ingredients—these guys are coated with it! And for someone who may be very sensitive to spice, these will take them by surprise. We did like them, though, so hooray for finding a new airport snack.

Michel et Augustin Shortbread Cookie Squares (Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt)

I’m not sure why Taylor and Sean have an aversion to shortbread, but I can’t find anything wrong with a butter, sugar, and flour cookie. We appreciated the fact that these treats were individually wrapped, but were a bit bored with the dark chocolate frosting on top. It definitely needed more sea salt, though we think these would be a perfect addition to a fancy tea party. They’re easily dunkable and neutral enough to pair with any kind of tea.

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Top 10 Tastes of Amsterdam

The Friday Buzz: All the S’mores, Coolest Drinks Around, and Good Reads

Here's our weekly round-up of all good things, good advice, good feelings. Up this week: All the S'mores, Coolest Drinks Around, and Good Reads

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Strawberry-Basil Moscow Mule

This Strawberry-Basil Moscow Mule is a fruity twist on the classic! Mixed with vodka and spicy ginger beer, it's a perfect cocktail for a hot summer afternoon.

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