Six Trendy Food Ideas for the 2013 Holidays

Are you looking for ways to add zest and unique experiences to your 2013 holiday menus? Here is a collection of several trendy ideas for you to try out when family and friends come visiting. Add a few of these dishes into the traditional holiday line-up to impress your guests, find some new favorite tastes, and expand your cooking skills!

Tea Rubs — Move the tea out of your cups and into your meals with the many unique ways that tea is being used as a flavoring in cooking One of the most popular methods is a tea rub that you can use to coat meats and season roasts before cooking. You can also experiment in used liquid teas to add some flavor to a variety of other dishes. Early Grey, with its bergamot essence, is one of the most popular teas, but feel free to experiment with your favorites, too.

Duck Eggs — One of the all-time popular holiday breakfast items is the egg. Used in omelets, scrambles, and poached delicacies, eggs have many uses, but even farm fresh chicken eggs can get a little boring. Mix up your menu this holiday season by looking for duck eggs instead. These eggs cook in similar ways but tend to have a richer, more exotic flavor that will make your breakfast much more delicious. Poach them lightly to preserve the most flavor, or experiment!

Mexican Comfort Food — Try Mexican griddle sandwiches for an additional tasty treat these holidays. Such fusion sandwiches are rapidly replacing the panini across America and make a great addition to your menu. The ingredients are familiar, easy to find and prepare, and ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Try macaroni or wrap versions, too! While you may not want to replace any traditional menu items with this type of food, it makes a fascinating and delicious addition.

Popovers and Gougeres — Popovers and gougeres are ideal finger food options to impress guests and enjoy on the move. One problem with traditional holiday cuisine is that it often lacks savory, bite-sized goodies that can be picked up and carried around to conversations. Rather than forcing people to congregate around the table (or sticking with boring dishes like nuts) experimenting with popovers, gougeres, cheese puffs, and similar savory bites that can quickly becomes holiday favorites among your family.

Ginger in Unexpected Places — Gingerbread cookies are old hat, but if your family has a ginger tooth then try experimenting by putting this common holiday spice to work. Experimenting with new recipes for traditional gingerbread that add in extra flavors for a new experience. Try ginger in your bite-sized foods, your cocktails, and any stir-fried dishes, too. Because it is such a great palate cleanser, ginger can go well with a broad array of dishes. Look up ginger recipes for even more ideas!

Baked Fruit Treats — Baked fruit has risen to become one of the most popular artisan snack foods in the U.S., with more and more amateur cooks experimenting with such foods. Stuffed apples is old school but you may still be able to wow with this classic dish. For a new take, try frying pear slices and serving them with a syrup sauce, or experimenting with pear pizzas and pear turnovers. If you prefer a different fruit, experiment with more apple, mandarin orange, and even banana dishes.

Lana Marston is a professional is a professional blogger that shares cooking advice. She writes for RecipeChart.com, where you can find a large selection of delicious recipes.