That’s a Wrap

As our beloved 2015 comes to an end, we have time to reflect on the many changes and nuances that have developed over the last twelve months. One thing that has notably taken off is food terminology. Trendy food terms have become so ubiquitous in our society that some words have even been granted their very own spot in the dictionary.

Here are the new foods terms that have been added to the dictionary in 2015 so you can keep up with the quickly evolving language of foodies.

Hangry. No surprise here, hangry is a term we have spoken about before. This term is a conjunction of hungry and angry. It is used when you are so hungry to a point where you become irritable. Hangry actually holds a lot of truth and scientific evidence behind it! When you are hungry, your body runs out of fuel to keep up with your energy demand. This can trigger moodiness and the tendency to “snap” when instigated. Make sure you keep wholesome, satiating snacks with you throughout the day to avoid being the co-worker known as hangry.

Cookie butter. Cookie butter is a new product on the market that consists of mashed cookies into a peanut butter-like spread. The cookie that is typically used in cookie butter is a Belgium spice cookie but it has since evolved in the United States to include Oreos, graham crackers and Girl Scout cookies. Cookie butter pairs best on toast and fruit.

Foodspo. This term is one of those words you need to know if you are present on many different social media platforms. Instagrammers and bloggers use this word in the form of a hashtag to represent a beautiful depiction of a food item. Hashtags allow other users to search this term and find other posts with the same theme.  Foodspo should be used for foods that are inspiration for other food-lovers, hence the suffix “spo”- shortened for inspiration.

Zarf. You can call it a coffee sleeve or you can pretentiously call it by its real name, a zarf. Zarfs are the cardboard collars you place around hot coffee cups to keep your hands from getting burned. The term zarf is actually an old Arabic word for a coffee holder with no handle. You learn something new every day.

As we make our way into the New Year, Pinterest predicts these upcoming trends will really take off in 2016.

DIY artesian oils. DIY, or do-it-yourself, tutorials have skyrocketed since social media sites like Pinterest and Youtube started.  These sites allow professionals to visually display each step of the design process for all different kinds of projects. Artesian oils like flavored garlic or basil olive oil are great for adding a touch of flavor to boring dishes. In the United States, these oils come from large vineyards in states like California and can be purchased online. Avoid unnecessary spending and hassle by making your own delicious oil at home this year.

Design your oil by heating regular olive oil in a sauce pan on medium-high heat. Add equal amounts of dried flavorings. Turn the heat down and let it simmer just for a few minutes. Set aside and let it cool. Strain the oil through a fine metal strainer to rid of some of the contents that are making your oil cloudy. Funnel the end product into a pretty glass bottle and decorate. It also make a great gift!

Sweet to savory. Sweet to savory is the concept that some brave and talented restaurants are willing to take on. It involves taking a typically sweet dish and transforming it into a savory plate instead. One example is French toast. One savory recipe involves parmesan French toast with hollandaise sauce. Get your taste buds excited.

Snacking and bento boxes. Bento boxes are traditional Japanese meals that involve portioning of different foods. This concept can be used to create a healthy version of a “TV dinner”. This is something I have spoken about in other posts and is a great habit to get into if you have a busy schedule. If you like seeing your food neatly compartmentalized, there are plenty of varieties and suggestions on Pinterest.

Keep your eye out for growing trends in 2016 and have a happy and healthy New Year!

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