Recipes that make the Rank

Searching online the other day, I noticed that the Foodnetwork lists the Best Recipes of 2007 on their site. I'm not sure, but my guess is that this is a ranking of the most requested recipes from last year. And let me tell you, it reveals quite a lot about our current American eating habits.

Leading with two different types of macaroni and cheese, you it's a challenge to find healthy recipes buried in the mix. I love to revel in a little cheesey goodness myself, but doesn't the marriage of good fresh flavors account for anything anymore? Judging from the list, fans of The Barefoot Contessa and Everyday Italian are the only ones who might agree.

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Recipes that make the Rank posted by Meryl on July 23, 2008 @ 12:32 PM
Tags:   food trends
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Cowboys and Hawaiian Pizza

Here's a culinary trend you may not know about. In Oakley, Utah, Hawaiian pizza is all the rage. Between broncho busting and barrel racing, nothing seems to satisfy a cowboy's appetite quite like pineapples and ham on a cheesey slice. No joke.

At the Fourth of July rodeo, where mainstream items like hamburgers, hotdogs and plain cheese pizza was offered, nothing flew out of the consession stand quite so fast as a Hawaiian slice. How long 'til pesto makes its move? After witnessing this slice of Americana, my thought is stranger things have happened.

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Cowboys and Hawaiian Pizza posted by Meryl on July 8, 2008 @ 11:00 AM
Tags:   Americana, culinary trend, Hawaiian pizza
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Score Big with Grilling

As the 4th of July approaches, millions are scraping down their grills in preparation for the annual cook-out. According to the latest research by The NPD Group however, this year, it'll be a whole lot easier than it was in the past.

Why? Because 38% of American families grill at least once every two weeks throughout the year. This is up from 17% just 20 years ago.

In other words, those burgers, dogs, steaks and chicken breasts that fly off the shelves this weekend can have a lasting impact on sales to come. In fact, if you secure your place in a customer's grilling ritual, chances are you'll increase sales throughout the year. Quick, easy and satisfying--grilling really is all that!

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Score Big with Grilling posted by Meryl on July 2, 2008 @ 2:09 PM
Tags:   grilling
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Recipes for Success

I'm developing recipes this week for the California Olive Industry. Do you have any idea what that means? Chances are, if you are like most people I've come in contact with over the years, your answer is no. And guess what, I'm not going to tell you. (A gal's entitled to a few secrets).

What I will tell you though is what to look for when hiring a recipe developer for your next marketing campaign. A qualified recipe developer...

1. Works closely with the rest of the marketing team to make sure that recipes stay on strategy.
2. Knows the target audience and develops recipes that appeal directly to them.
3. Makes sure the client's product is prominently highlighted in each recipe, not just tossed in willy nilly without making any sense.
4. Tests and retests recipes. If consumers cannot prepare the dish according to instructions, they are not likely to come back for more.
5. Considers not only how the recipe will taste, but how it will look. Recipes are great tools for ads, direct mail, web-based marketing, etc, make sure they're eye catching.

That said, I've got lots on my plate today...

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Recipes for Success posted by Meryl on May 20, 2008 @ 9:44 AM
Tags:   marketing, recipe development
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