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Foodie Fixations: Today’s Top Culinary Trends

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One of the most wonderful things about the culinary world (and there are many!) is that it is constantly in flux. New recipes, cooking methods, presentation styles and even ingredients seem to appear every day, keeping our palates forever enticed and entertained. Here are three top foodie movements of the moment. Try them out today before tomorrow’s trends arrive.

 

 1.     Bento-Style Lunches: When it comes to packed lunches, simple brown-bagging no longer makes the cut. Instead, bento lunches—compact, balanced, and visually appealing meals packed in a box—are becoming a staple in school cafeterias. These Pinterest-perfect arrangements encourage well-rounded eating and make mealtime more fun for picky eaters. Libby’s® 4 oz. Vegetable Cups fit particularly well inside these lunchboxes.  

 2.     Plant-Based Proteins: Move aside, meat. Plant-based sources of protein (think: lentils, chickpeas, nuts and other beans) are stealing the mealtime spotlight. Hop on the bandwagon with these Sweet & Smoky Peas, starring Libby’s® Sweet Peas and Libby’s® Organic Garbanzo Beans. This protein-filled combo also packs serious flavor, thanks to cinnamon, sugar and smoked paprika.

 3.     Portable Soups: On-the-go soup offers both health and convenience, two increasingly valued qualities in food. Try out the trend with this Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup with Maple Roasted Garbanzo Beans. It’s a creamy, complex mixture of autumn’s finest flavors, including maple, cinnamon and nutmeg. Prep work is minimal, but the recipe requires about six hours of simmering in the crock pot, so it’s ideal as a weekend project. Once ready, the soup can be stored in the fridge and then transferred to a thermos for easy eating anywhere.

 

Serving up Nutrition: The Simple Process of Canning Food

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Canned foods have been a longtime staple on American shelves, but did you know that the canning process originated in 18th century France? That’s where Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, concerned about properly nourishing his armies, announced a generous reward for whomever could develop a valid system for food preservation.

Nicholas Appert secured the prize with his idea of preserving food in bottles, like wine. Fifteen years and many experiments later, he realized that if food is properly heated and sealed in an airtight container, it will remain edible. The idea spread throughout Europe and the first commercial canning factory opened in England in 1813.

Today—nearly two and a half centuries later—the process is as safe, sustainable and nutritious as ever. Check out the below infographic from our friends at the Canned Food Alliance for more behind-the-scenes information on this method. Then, visit our Digital Recipe Box for appetizer, entrée and dessert ideas using your favorite canned fruits and veggies.

Perfect the Picnic: Recipes for Al Fresco Feasting

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Is it just us or is summer whizzing by? Before we know it, we’ll be back in back-to-school mode. Until then, soak up the last of these lazy days with the kids. One particularly fun and no-fuss way to do so is with a picnic. The following recipes are quick, healthy and ideal for open-air dining. Plus, they’re all finger-friendly, so you can ditch your cutlery and dig in!

 

Dip Into This

 

Start things off on a healthy high note with this Sweet Pea Dip, a light, creamy and easy peas-y concoction starring Libby’s® Sweet Peas. It’s a dipping delight with pita bread, raw veggies and multi-grain crackers, and you can also spread any leftovers on the next day’s sandwiches (although we’re betting it will be devoured on-site!).

Whimsical Meets Wholesome

Research has shown that giving nutritious food a fun name increases a child’s likelihood of eating it. Test out the theory yourself with these Green Wheels and Ham Sandwiches, made with Libby’s® Cut Green Beans, whole-wheat tortillas, ham and spreadable cheese. They’re tasty, quick to pull together and easily portable—a prime pick for a picnic.

Mini Morsels

 

The only thing better than cake is cake you can eat with your hands. Complete your feast with these gooey, guilt-free Carrot Cake Bites. They’re full of whole wheat flour and Libby’s® Sliced Carrots and low in sugar and fat. Go ahead – have another…it’ll be one less thing to pack up!

Summer Sides That Brighten Up Dinner

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It’s official: summer is in full swing! And while we welcome the warmer weather, steamy temperatures can sometimes wilt your inspiration in the kitchen. Luckily, a superb, summery side dish can salvage any meal. Here are a few tasty and simple-to-prepare recipes that will elevate your dinner from mediocre to mouth-watering. Bonus: all three are prepared sans-oven, so you can stay cool while your taste buds heat up.

 
Better Your BBQ

Summertime is practically synonymous with BBQs and no BBQ is complete without a proper slaw. For a tasty twist on traditional coleslaw, try Summery Slaw, made with Libby’s® French Style Green Beans and Whole Kernel Sweet Corn. Colorful, crunchy and full of flavor, it’s a sunny complement to any meaty main course.

Freshen Up With Veggies

Fluffy couscous and zesty veggies join forces in this Cilantro-Lime Corn Couscous, featuring Libby’s® Sweet Corn, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach. The dish is harmoniously tied together with a light, flavor-packed dressing made with fresh lime and olive oil. Add it to tonight’s spread and freshen up mealtime in no time.

Add Pep with Pepper

Sometimes, all your food needs is a little kick of flavor. Jazz up any entrée with a generous side serving of Lemon Pepper Parmesan Peas. Made with just three ingredients (Libby’s® Sweet Peas, lemon pepper and parmesan), this sweet-yet-spicy combination will put that pep back in your dinnertime step.    

Warm Soups to Fight Cold Weather

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The winter weather can be brutal, with winds, freezing temperatures—sleet and snow! That’s why there’s nothing better than coming in after a cold day to a nice hot meal, like a hearty soup.  Here are some soup recipes that will keep your family warm and well fed.

 

 

Winter Minestrone

Minestrone is a great soup because of the variety of vegetables — and this one even includes some diced ham for protein.  It’s also a great choice for the cold winter months because the ingredients allow it to serve as a full meal.  Use Libby’s® Cut Green Beans and Mixed Vegetables to add great flavor to this rustic and classic dish.

Vegetable Sausage Soup

The sausage in this dish makes an ordinary vegetable soup into one with diverse spices and flavors. It’s a great choice to help you refuel after being outside in the cold. Use Libby’s® Cut Green Beans, Sliced Carrots and Whole White Potatoes to make a soup that will be a treat for the whole family.

Spicy Split Pea Bisque

Split pea soup is often singular in texture and flavor, but ours is not! This spicy dish calls for some chili powder and black pepper. Salty and crunchy bacon crumbles and a dollop of cool Greek yogurt mix up the consistency and offer a surprisingly delightful flavor combination. However, the peas are the star of this dish, so use Libby’s® Naturals Sweet Peas to get it started; the result will be a soup that is delicious and nutritious.

What’s your favorite soup? Serve it up and share a photo on our Facebook page!