Moving to another country can be very difficult, especially when you leave friends and family in your home country. Whenever I start to miss home, or feel overwhelmingly homesick, one of my favorite things to do is make 'comfort food' or dishes that my Mom and Dad used to cook when I was little. In this blog post, I will share what some of my favorite Californian dinners are and how they differ from a typical dinner in Madrid.
1. JR's Tacos
If you know anything about me, you will know that I love tacos. While Madrid has some amazing tacos (looking at you Takos al Pastor), they will never compare to the tacos my Dad used to make. What makes my Dad's (Jon Reed or JR) tacos special is the shell. His secret is to fry the tortilla (flour or corn) in a little bit of oil and sprinkle it with salt, immediately after removing it from the frying pan.
Because Southern California is so close to Mexico, it has some of the best Mexican food in the world. Not only are there authentic restaurants and taco trucks, but also strange combinations of Mexican cuisine. For example, one of my favorite restaurants is a fusion of Mexican and Korean food. At this restaurant you can order tacos with Korean barbeque meat as the filling! In Madrid, I've been able to find excellent tacos, but not as much variety.
2. Harvest Stew and biscuits
My next favorite homecooked meal and ultimate comfort meal is what my family calls "Harvest Stew." This hardy stew is perfect during the winter months because it warms the soul and is filled with healthy vegetables, filling potatoes, and flavorful meat.
Although many families in Madrid also make stews and soups, in California we normally pair them with biscuits. The word bisuit in Madrid means 'cookie' however in the US it is a savory bread-like pastry made with butter, flour, and salt. Below I've posted a recipe for both my family's version of 'Harvest Stew' and biscuits. The stew recipe is in my Mom's handwriting so it may be a bit difficult to read.
Homemade Harvest Stew (Slide for buscuit recipe)
3. Grandma's Macaroni and Cheese
The last meal I would like to share with you is called Macaroni and Cheese. You may have heard of this classic American dish on TV shows or in movies. While there are many ways of making it, my Grandma makes this dish special by using four different types of cheese! She also tops the Mac and Cheese with buttery, flaky bread crumbs before baking it in the oven. Paired with sweet, honey-glazed ham and you have an instant American classic. Every year we have this dish for Christmas Eve dinner, so it also reminds me of the holidays, when family and friends come together from around the world.
Do you like to cook with your family?
What dish is your favorite?
Are there any recipes that are special to your family?
This is a link to a video game you can play called 'Kevin's Build-A-Meal.' You can travel with a boy named Kevin and help him build the perfect dinner. (The game requires adobe flash so if it does not work, you may have to download this extension) Enjoy!
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