WHAT’S IN FOOD TRENDS Bon Appetit recently released its pick of “in” food trends for 2009, while www.epicurious.com let us know a few things on their way out.

Using peanut butter for dessert dishes. New Southern cuisine will show up in restaurants around the country, featuring dishes such as beet salad with cornbread croutons and elegant spoonbread for dessert. Eating affordable breakfasts with seasonal, local ingredients in restaurants. Throwing in-home dinner parties. MUSIC NOTES

Buying Wal-Mart exclusives, including chart-topping releases from AC/DC (“Black Ice”) and Journey (“Revelation”).

Attending local festivals like the Chattanooga Dulcimer Festival, NoogaPalooza and Chattahippie.

Downloading music. A billion digital music tracks were downloaded in 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan statistics.

FASHIONS: DITCH OR STITCH

If you’re planning to weed your wardrobe of fashions not making the must-have list of 2009, local fashion expert Suzanne Bishop, owner of Frankie & Julian’s boutique on Frazier Avenue, has suggestions about what you should buy

Wearing ruffles and tailored jackets, blouses and skirts. Wearing bright colors, particularly yellow, in graphic designs. Buying snakeskin accessories. Donning one-piece jumpsuits. GET CRAFTY Craftswoman Cindy Lowery shows craft work at regional, adjudicated crafts shows each year, and former Folkheart owner Debbie Daily operates several blogs discussing trends with craftspeople nationwide. Here’s their 2009 outlook for the crafts world:

Designing aprons, especially popular among the 20- and 30-year-olds. Printing, matting and framing your own digital prints. Hand-blowing glass. Quilting home accent pieces: designer pillows, wall hangings, lap throws. POP CULTURE HEADLINES

Watching MEGAN FOX, a gal with no need to transform. Both men and women voted foxy Fox the sexiest women for 2009 in the Fandango 2009 Hot List, and as FHM’s Sexiest Woman in the World. The Rockwood, Tenn., native has also graced the covers of Maxim and GQ. Following the political career of Sarah Palin. She may not be the new vice-prez, but the 2009 Palin calendar guarantees America’s hottest grandma will stick around for at least the next 12 months. WHAT’S OUT

Deep-frying foods. The obesity epidemic is raging across the United States, so fried foods are on the hot seat.

Eating Thai food.

Consuming gourmet coffee. People will be looking for locally roasted beans and brews.

Visiting some local clubs. Venues that closed in 2008 include The Local and Durty Nelly’s.

Buying CDs. Sales are projected to fall by an annual rate of 8 percent over next five years, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Buying music-themed video games. In its first week, “Guitar Hero World Tour” sold 62 percent fewer copies than its preceding title, “Guitar Hero III,” according to NPD Market Research.

Donning micro-mini skirts. Buying tent-like tunics and dresses. Wrapping up in chunky knits. Dressing in horizontal stripes.

Making beaded jewelry. Scrapbooking. Crocheting.

Following the BRITNEY SPEARS drama — (Please don’t) hit me baby one more time. Spears gave her mea culpa to Glamour magazine. Daddy owns her now. Short of joining a cult or pulling an Amy Fisher, what can she do that will really surprise us now?

Pampering pets. With the state of the economy making it hard to pay the rent, unaffordable pets are being left at shelters. This is not the year for designer raincoats and rhinestone collars for Lassie.