Now that 2011 (along with some serious holiday gluttony) has been officially put to bed, it’s time to turn our eyes—or is that stomachs?—to the top food trends predicted for 2012.

Who’s ready to break their diet resolutions?

Well, if you listen to James Oseland, the editor-in-chief of Saveur magazine, you’ll be dining on … meat loaf. Meat loaf? Sorry, James, but I personally am not getting on that trend train. Listening to a little “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” while I cook is about as close as I plan to get to my childhood nightmare this year. All you meat loaf lovers out there, go nuts!

Lots of Italian-American food, however? Delizioso! Oseland, in his piece for “Today,” predicts eggplant parm and sausage with peppers will land on a plate near you, as will layer cakes (buh-bye macaroons) and homemade pickles (at least Snookie will be pleased).

Meanwhile, Bret Thorn, the senior food editor for Nation’s Restaurant News, writes that eateries will offer more pistachios (um, sure?), 200-calorie “shake shots” (we’re in),  Bananas Foster (always trendy, no?) and more mainstream Indian and Korean food (pass the kimchi).

Not quite ready for a diet full of meat loaf, layer cakes, pistachios and Indian food? You’ll still be a trendy foodie in 2012 if you simply keep things local.

NPR reports this year will be all about artisanal, craft, farm-to-table grub.

“The small farmer is the new gastronomic superhero, sourced on restaurant menus,” according to the news organization. “Independent butcher shops are opening across the country with unfamiliar cuts like Denver steak, petite tender, flat iron. Expect more specialty meats, too, like bison, elk, goat and rabbit.”

And to wash it all down: Moonshine, anyone? NPR says the unaged corn whiskey on the rise. Hey, a few shots of that, and I probably won’t even remember having to eat that meat loaf.

Why wait to jump on the trend train? Try these recipes:

• Meat Loaf Recipes (from Mom’s Best to Enchilada Meat Loaf... dozens of variations on the classic dish).

• Pistachio Recipes (How about a Pistachio Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream or Choco-Pistachio Pinwheel Cookies?)

• Italian Recipes (Watch this video, “How to Cook Italian Sausage,” for a delicious polenta-and-sausage dish.)

• Layer Cakes: (Is six layers enough? Try this lemony over-the-top Doberge Cake, pictured above.)

You might also like:

Dell’s Branding Day Meat Loaf: Dinner for $10

Restaurant Guru Predicts Wacky Food Trends for 2012

Who Needs a Meat Thermometer? You Do, Survey Finds

Supermarket Savvy: 2012 Predictions

One-Bowl Upside-Down Apple Cake

Categories: Food News | Tags: Cake, Italian Cuisine, Meatloaf, Nuts
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