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I’ve Got 10 (In) 2022 Food Trends That You Can Get In On Right Now
Are you the one who's considered to be the "trendy one" in your family or tribe? If so and you're planning on doing a little bit of hosting this holiday season, I thought it would be cool to share with you some of the foods that are going to be super popular, come — what in the world is going on with time?! — 2022. That way, as you're serving up drinks and/or dishes and folks are asking you where the inspiration came from, you can tell them that you already know what's gonna be big next year and you wanted to put them up on game. Ready?
1. Turmeric
It actually doesn't surprise me that turmeric tops the list of food trends for next year. I mean, it's already a spice that's really popular (especially in traditional Indian dishes) and it's got a great reputation for being super beneficial, health-wise, thanks to the active ingredient curcumin that's in it. As far as benefits go, turmeric is good for you because it contains non-inflammatory properties, it's loaded with antioxidants, and it even has a reputation for reducing depression-related symptoms.
From personal experience, I'll just say that because turmeric also tends to be a natural blood thinner, be careful about constantly taking it as a supplement. I used to until I connected it to why the amount of blood that I was losing during my period had increased, significantly so. Still, if you want to use it to prepare some dishes, it's definitely a spice that you want to have in your medicine cabinet.
Turmeric Recipe: Turmeric Chicken and Rice
2. Mocktails
What many vegan alternatives are to meat, that's basically what mocktails are to cocktails because I'm pretty sure you know that they are cocktail-style drinks that are "zero-proof" (which means they have no alcohol in them). While some of you may be reading this and thinking, "Hell, what fun is in that?" because there are so many varieties when it comes to mocktails, they can be highly enjoyable if you want something cocktail-ish in the middle of the day or you want to start off happy hour with a couple of them, so that you won't go overboard on the "real" stuff.
Mocktail Recipe: Mango Mule Mocktail
3. Potato Milk
It seems like every day, there is some sort of new milk alternative. While I'm personally an oat milk gal myself (I used to be all about almond milk until I found out that the preparation process isn't the best for the environment), I am intrigued enough about potato milk that I just might give it a shot.
One of the main reasons why it's caught my attention is because potato milk is high in two vitamins that a lot of us Black women are sometimes low in — vitamins B12 and D. Since it's also a good source of vitamins A, C, and E, along with calcium and iron, plus it's sustainable and environmentally friendly, it couldn't hurt to give it a shot, right?
By the way, word on the street is it's not available in stores in the United States but it is fairly easy to make at home.
DIY Potato Milk Recipe: Here
4. Umami
OK, so this point is interesting. If you didn't know, there are five basic tastes — sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory. Well, umami is another word (a Japanese one) for tastes that fall into the savory category. Some foods that come to mind are broths, cooked meats, aged cheeses, seafood, and mushrooms. So, if aromatic-spicy stuff is naturally your thing, 2022 is definitely gonna be your year.
Savory Recipe: Chicken Potpie Galette with Cheddar-Thyme Crust
5. Moringa
Moringa is a plant that grows in India and also in tropical and subtropical places. Its nicknames are "miracle tree" and "drumstick tree" and it comes with an impressive amount of health benefits including the fact that it's a good source of vitamins A, B, C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. When it comes to protecting your liver, strengthening your hair and skin, speeding up the healing process of wounds, lowering your blood sugar levels, and even treating asthma-related symptoms, moringa has you covered. Oh, and if you're wondering what in the world it tastes like, matcha is probably the best comparison.
Moringa Recipe: Vegan Moringa Oatmeal
6. Sunflower Seeds
Ice cream that has sunflower seed oil in it. Sunflower seed butter. Chocolate-covered sunflower seeds. Chile, as far as trendy seeds next year go, sunflower seeds will definitely be topping the list. It's good to know since they contain Vitamin E, plant compounds, protein, and fatty acids. Plus, sunflower seeds can help to fight inflammation and lower blood sugar levels. All solid reasons to add sunflower seeds to your healthy snacks list (if you haven't already).
Sunflower Seeds Recipe: Collard Greens Salad with Ginger and Spicy Seed Brittle
7. CBD-Infused Peanut Butter
With all of the buzz surrounding cannabis, in general, I'm thinking you probably know that there is THC (the main psychoactive cannabinoid in weed that makes you feel "high") and there is CBD (another chemical compound in weed although it isn't psychoactive). The reason why CBD continues to grow in popularity is that it's able to do everything from relieving pain and reducing anxiety to decreasing many cancer-related symptoms and strengthening your circulatory system.
While I would've never thought to pair it with peanut butter, since peanut butter is a good source of Vitamin E, iron, protein, fiber, copper, magnesium, and niacin, I can see why someone would have experimented with it and liked the end results. Anyway, this will be something else to look out for in 2022. From what I've read, it's also a really big thing for dogs; a company that carries it for them is Honest Paws.
DIY CBD-Infused Peanut Butter Recipe: Here
8. Hibiscus
Basically, hibiscus is a flowering plant with a tart taste that is most popular in tea form. And yes, it will be a huge food trend next year as well. Health benefits-wise, hibiscus contains antioxidants that help to fight off free radicals, it's able to lower your blood pressure, it can help to increase your liver's level of health, it assists with removing harmful bacteria from your system and it contains cancer-fighting compounds. And again, while hibiscus is best known for how it is used in beverages, 2022 is probably going to be the year when you see it prepared in all sorts of different ways.
Hibiscus Recipe: Hibiscus Flower Quesadillas
9. Omakase
This one isn't exactly a food — it's more like a cooking style. Omakase is a Japanese phrase that can be said in restaurants when what you mean to convey to the chef is "I'll leave it up to you." And while you might wonder why in the heck you would do that if you're at a favorite restaurant or you're going to one that is highly recommended, you want to specialize in a dish, yet you're not exactly sure what you want to go in it "omakase" can be the way to go. For obvious reasons (I'm thinking), this goes over best at sushi restaurants; however, if you apply this method elsewhere, you could be in for a pleasant surprise.
Check Out MasterClass's "Omakase Guide: 5 Things to Know Before Trying Omakase"
10. Childhood Favorites
Finally, nostalgia is also going to be big in 2022. Basically, any food that takes you back to your childhood days is something that you will probably have an easier time finding whether it's a certain kind of candy, cereal, drink, or anything else. So, if you want to take your taste buds down a memory lane stroll, next year would be the time to do it. Enjoy!
Where to Buy Vintage Candy: Old Time Candy
Featured image by Getty Images
Different puzzle pieces are creating bigger pictures these days. 2024 will mark a milestone on a few different levels, including the release of my third book next June (yay!).
I am also a Professional Certified Coach. My main mission for attaining that particular goal is to use my formal credentials to help people navigate through the sometimes tumultuous waters, both on and offline, when it comes to information about marriage, sex and relationships that is oftentimes misinformation (because "coach" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, oftentimes quite poorly).
I am also still super devoted to helping to bring life into this world as a doula, marriage life coaching will always be my first love (next to writing, of course), a platform that advocates for good Black men is currently in the works and my keystrokes continue to be devoted to HEALTHY over HAPPY in the areas of holistic intimacy, spiritual evolution, purpose manifestation and self-love...because maturity teaches that it's impossible to be happy all of the time when it comes to reaching goals yet healthy is a choice that can be made on a daily basis (amen?).
If you have any PERSONAL QUESTIONS (please do not contact me with any story pitches; that is an *editorial* need), feel free to reach out at missnosipho@gmail.com. A sistah will certainly do what she can. ;)
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
These Tips Will Keep Foreplay From Becoming Boring AF (No Pun Intended)
As a writer, I happen to like quotes A LOT. When it comes to the topic of sex, specifically, there used to be a page on Twitter (it’s always gonna be Twitter to me, chile) calledKinky Quotes that I would enjoy checking out from time to time. The reason why is it was good forshowcasing content like “Foreplay. Don’t rush it. Enjoy it.”
INDEED.
Okay, but what if you’ve been in a relationship for a while now, and although the foreplay is still pretty good, the real issue is that it’s also become a bit, well, boring? What do you do? First, don’t overthink it; you’re not in a position that is strange, rare, or anything to be overly concerned about. Second, there are a few things that you and your partner can do to bring a bit more spice back into the foreplay aspect of your sex life.
1. Build Up Anticipation
I’ve been working with long-term couples for a really long time now — and if there’s one thing that can tank the sex life of people who’ve been having sex for years, it’s not doing what builds up anticipation. At the end of the day, anticipation is all about giving your partner something to look forward to. Sexting does this. Sending your partner an email with a hotel reservation or some out-of-the-blue sexcation plans does this. Calling them to share something that you want to check off of your sex-themed bucket list does this.
Pretty much doing anything that lets them know that you want them to get into the headspace of getting super excited about what you have in store for them, on the sexual tip — that is some of the best foreplay that there is, y’all. So, when’s the last time that you gave your man a preview of what is to come? Hmm…
2. Get Creative with Your Nudity
Unfortunately, our culture can be so…imbalanced (let’s go with that word) when it comes to sex that many people think it’s impossible to engage in intimacy with someone for years (even decades) on end and still find it to be an absolutely wonderful and fulfilling experience. Meanwhile, there areplenty of studies to support that sex actually gets better, the longer that you are with someone (one study says that it’s around the 15-year mark when things really start to soar!). The thing that you should avoid is falling into a rut — being lazy about intimacy, looking crazy while going to bed (y’all know what I am talking about), and not “dressing up” the gift sometimes.
I can’t tell you how many husbands I have worked with who have told me that they never get tired of their wife’s body (like…ever); what they do get sick of is no lingerie or creativity when it comes to her “sexual presentation.” Date night with no drawers on. Watching television in a sheer baby doll get-up. Celebrating a goal that he’s reached with nothing but a bow on when you come to bed. You get what I mean, right? He chose you. He wants you. Get creative with your body when it comes to intimacy sometimes, though. That way, he’ll never see you coming (well…until…you know. LOL!).
3. Leave Touch Out of It (Initially)
While once reading an article on Bustle’s site about where the term “blow job” came from (it’s a semi-long explanation; you can check it outhere), there’s a sentence that says, “The roots of the term ‘blow job’ began a bit earlier than this, however — in the 17th century, to be exact, when to ‘blow’ meant to bring someone to orgasm.” One definition of blow speaks to what we do with our breath whether it’s whistling, breathing hard, or creating a steady stream of air out of our mouth.
If you do this on your partner’s erogenous zones, it can provide a very flirty yet arousing level of stimulation to where they will want you to touch them as soon as possible. Oh, and if you add some dirty words into the mix, they will damn near be ready to climax the moment even your finger touches their body. Hey, try it. I’m absolutely not exaggerating.
4. Kiss Everywhere…BUT the Mouth (Again, Initially)
Even though some people don’t like to kiss (check out “Umm, What's Up With These People Who Hate Kissing?”), the rest of us? We want it as much as possible! There isa scientific reason for why that is the case too. When you kiss someone (especially in the mouth), it releases feel-good and bonding hormones and chemicals including dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin; not to mention the fact that it can also help to reduce stress. And while kissing does feel absolutely amazing, remember that the focus here is to “pregame” stimulation.
So, if you really want to get your man riled up, avoid his mouth (at first) and even his penis and opt for turn-on spots instead.The wetness of your mouth, the softness of your lips, and the texture of your tongue along his neck, around his ears or gently grazing his back? Girl, I’m getting a little hot ‘n bothered just talking — well, writing — about it.
5. Stay Out of the Bed
If there are two things that couples can find themselves getting really lazy about (if they’re not careful), it’s when they have sex and where. As far as the “when” goes,although reportedly, guys tend to prefer it in the morning (I mean, morning wood…makes sense) and women do late at night, most couples will admit that there is usually a time when they have it the most (especially if they’ve got young children — check out “How To Make Sex Easier (& More Fun) When You've Got Kids”) as a way of “meeting in the middle.” For example, if for you and your man,that’s 10 p.m. and it’s pretty much that way, every time, that can get to become boring, simply because no anticipation is necessary; you know what’s coming.
Same thing goes for always having sex in the bed. Even though it’s comfortable and accommodating to most sex positions, trying other places (at least for foreplay) can cultivate a feeling of newness and excitement. Whether it’s on the kitchen floor, in your car (when it’s in the garage), in the shower (check out “So, This Is How To Make Shower Sex So Much Better”), in your closet (some people really like the closeness of it) or, what appears to be most folks’ favorite spot,the living room sofa (go figure, chile) — get out of the bed sometimes. The bed is comfy, no doubt. It’s also predictable as hell.
6. Have a Foreplay Staycation
It honestly floors me, just how many married couples I know who either haven’t taken a romantic vacation in years or (what in the world?!) haven’t done it since their honeymoon. To that, I’ll just say this: there was once a study conducted of 2,000 couples. It was revealed that of those who felt like their relationship had lost its spark, 42 percent of them were able to get it back by spending some quality time together while taking a leisure trip (without the kids). To me, this makes all of the sense in the world because romantic vacations are designed to “get off of the grid” and focus, solely, on you and your partner’s needs.
So, if you are one of those couples who doesn’t have a trip, just for you and your man, on the docket for some time this year, here’s your sign that you need to figure something out — ASAP. And what if your money is tight? What should you do in the meantime? How about a foreplay staycation? Plan 24-48 hours where you and your man do nothing but kiss, lick, and touch without any penetration involved. Play sex games. Dance naked. Come up with (new) safe words. After a day or two of nothing but this, you will be ready to explode once it’s time to actually have sex with each other!
7. Play Your Own Version of “Hot, Warm, Cold”
Temperature play plays a solid role in sexual pleasure; that’s why I’ve written articles like “Hot Sex: 10 Super Sultry Reasons To Bring Wax Play Into Your Bedroom” for the platform. Anyway, aside from the fact thatit’s pretty damn hilarious that 69 degrees is the ideal room temperature for intimacy (umm, if you catch my drift), a big part of the reason why playing around with hot, warm, and cold temps is so effective is because your nerves respond,sometimes drastically so, to variations in them.
I mean, when you stop to consider that there are8,000 nerves in a clitoris and 4,000 in a penis, imagine what some ice would do during oral sex. Or, how about heating up a sex toy that’s made out of glass or metal in some boiling water, letting it cool just a bit, and running that up and down each other’s erogenous zones? If you do this while being blindfolded, there really is no telling where the peak levels of stimulation could take you!
8. Focus on Upping the Ante on Your Partner’s Stimulation (As They Do the Same for You)
I’ve already referenced the word “stimulation” a few times. To stimulate is “to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; incite.” Some synonyms include arouse, inspire, spark, activate, energize, enflame, support, urge — and motivate (cue Kelly Rowland’s song, "Motivation"). And so, keeping all of this in mind, when it comes to foreplay with your partner, how much effort do you put into stimulating him — into inspiring him, energizing him, motivating him…yes, sexually?
Something that I am a big-time believer of is, it’s hard to fall into a sexual rut, if the goal that BOTH PEOPLE have is to always outdo themselves, damn near every time that they come together. That said, how can you “out-inspire” him with your compliments? How can you “out-energize” him with a creative meal that’sfilled with aphrodisiacs? How can you “out-motivate” him with some new ideas that you’ve researched while you were at work?
When it comes to both foreplay and sex, “applying pressure” can be a ton of fun — when you see yourself as your own competition as far as taking your partner to new heights in the stimulation department.
9. Be Unpredictable
Unpredictable can go a lot of ways. In the context of what I’m referring to, I’m not talking about being fickle, erratic, and unreliable. Nah, what I mean is, be intentional about having a few tricks up your sleeve that your partner would never see coming.
An example of this comes from a song from a local legend here, Shannon Sanders (if you know, you know). He once wrote a song entitled “Interstate” and the intro starts off with him saying, “What you doin’? Not you. Didn’t think you were the type.” Yeah, you can read between the lines (or click on the hyperlink to the title) to get what he’s talking about yet I’m pretty sure that what made the experience, 50 times greater, is she did something that was outside of the norm. When it comes to foreplay and sex — that is typically the case. #wink
10. Switch the Energy Up
Foreplay can — and should — have different themes from time to time. One time, focus on being romantic (rose petals and toasting each other). Another time, lean into being kinky (where are your handcuffs and bondage rope?). Still, another time, discuss a fantasy that you each want to fulfill. Then play dress-up as you role play. Record (the audio) of yourselves having sex one day; then play it another day — during foreplay.
Spoon naked and talk about all of the things that you adore about each other’s bodies. Get some oral sex dice (like thesehere) and see where throwing the dice will take you. Y’all, energy is such a big part of foreplay and sex, and the more you master switching it up, the more you and your partner will look forward to coming — and cumming — together for years to come. No doubt about it, sis.
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