Many things around us can trigger memories. For some of you it will be a song, the sound of someone’s voice or a familiar perfume. My main sensory trigger is usually…come on, one guess. The smell and taste of food. Ahh, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
There are dishes that bring me back to the happy years of childhood when I could go a whole summer surviving on grilled mozzarella- pepperoni sandwiches, and Ovaltine. Some dishes I am still trying to forget, Thanksgiving leftover smoosh, for example, brings me back to play dates where I would pray my mom could pick me up before dinner was served (sorry Lisa, you know I love you).
No matter how much time goes by or how hard we try to forget, these triggers will always bring us back.
When I’m away and feeling homesick I always know exactly what to cook to bring me into to my mom’s kitchen, my happy place.
Every stage of preparing the meal brings a new memory of comfort and joy. It transports me directly to elementary school days when I would walk through the front door after school or soccer and within an instant I would know what was for dinner! The final product has actually brought me to tears on at least one occasion. It’s that good, I swear.
Mamaita circa 1951
Mamaita’s Picadillo
1 lb ground beef
1 cup sliced green olives
1 cup chopped onions
3/4 cup raisins
2 T olive oil
Worcestershire sauce to taste
1 cup white wine (or beer)
1 cup beef broth (to get a soupier broth)
enough tomato sauce to get a nice color
add s&p to taste
Sauté beef and drain. Return to the pan add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Serve on top of rice.
For a special touch you can top with oven-roasted cubed potatoes. Cube them, add olive oil s&p toss and roast in oven.
I’m sure I am forgetting something here, so just keep adding ingredients if you feel it’s lacking!
“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.” – Helen Keller.
picadillo is so f-ing good. f-ing good. i f-ing love f-ing picadillo.
Great article! Sends me down memory lane as well! Picadillo certainly has a place in a lot of those memories. Thanks
Ahhh I love when your mom makes that!!!