Literanista
October 16, 2013
I’ve been working on restoring my blogroll, an index of all my favorite sites and blogs, happily rejoicing at the tenacity of some which I’ve been following for years and others whom I had thought had stopped.
Lately, I am uncertain if it’s the autumnal change or what, but I’ve been feeling melancholic and craving time with my mother and siblings. Longing for simpler times when life was less hectic and perhaps, I am romancing the stone a bit but I’ve been missing times when I worried less and enjoyed more freely.
Sometimes I yearn for dishes that I can only taste in my memories, made by my Mother’s hand and therefore, unreplicable. Dishes like Gazpacho de Bacalao with a loaf of fresh Italian baked bread, or Patitas de Cerdo con Garbanzos, or Gandinga, that cannot be ordered from a restaurant or entrusted to just anyone.
The other day, searching for a Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew) recipe that seemed similar to my Mom’s, I came across an old blog favorite, Platanos, Mangoes and Me. Norma dedicates the post to her mom and you can clearly feel the love and loss in this post. It’s interesting how a food or an olfactory sensation can trigger such powerful memories and feelings.
I started making the recipe and from the instant I started seasoning the cubed meat to let it marinate, I was taken back to my mom’s kitchen, sights and sounds.
Instantly, I was sitting on the counter in our old tenement, East Harlem apartment kitchen, legs so short, they dangled off the counter, watching my mom, carefully adding, tasting and stirring – Every once in a while, giving me a taste or having me help with a small task. That’s how I learned to cook, watching my mom, make ordinary things into spectacular dishes that often spellbound even our neighbors. My mom’s cooking was and still is legendary.
I called her up to ask if it was okay to substitute sweet potato instead of potatoes or yautia and had a good chuckle when she told me, “no way.” I happily trekked off to the supermarket wound the corner and came back to work on my stew. Once I browned the meat, I threw the rest of the ingredients in and just left the frozen peas and carrots out till the end. I simmered it for 3 hours all the time, captivated by the smell wafting through the house. It was like I had conjured, literally conjured my mom’s spirit and brought her to me.
When my boyfriend came home, he was elated the minute he walked through the door and exclaimed how good it smelled. I felt my heart swell because I, too, remember vividly, coming in from the cold walk back from school and being engulfed by the lovely, decadent smell of my Mami’s cooking.
The stew which I served with steamed multi-grain rice was delicious, according to my boyfriend and official taste tester, who went back for seconds. I thought so too.
Here’s the recipe I used and a photo below.
Author
Literanista
chenlina20150910
swarovski crystal
michael kors bag
adidas superstar
true religion
jordans
jordan retro 11
ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet online
michael kors
louis vuitton
imitation watches
cheap ray bans
coach outlet
louis vuitton handbags
uggs outlet
"toms outlet,toms wedges,toms.com,cheap toms,cheap toms shoes
"
aviator sunglasses
gucci outlet
oakley sunglasses
"hollister.com
"
fitflops
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors handbags
gucci outlet
adidas originals
ray ban sunglasses
nike huarache white
true religion jeans
ray ban wayfarer
tods outlet
louis vuitton
michael kors handbags
louis vuitton
nike sb
louis vuitton outlet
hollister,hollister co,hollister jeans,hollister.com,hollister ca,hollister clothing
longchamp le pliage
oakley sunglasses
ray-ban sunglasses
michael kors outlet
as
christian louboutin uk
pandora jewelry
gucci
louis vuitton handbags
ugg outlet
juicy couture outlet
louis vuitton outlet
oakley sunglasses
tiffany outlet
ugg uk
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors outlet
oakley sunglasses
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton outlet
canada goose jackets
cheap jordans
michael kors outlet store
belstaff jackets
ugg outlet
futbol baratas
louis vuitton bags
canada goose outlet
nba jerseys
true religion jeans
michael kors online
ray ban sunglasses
cheap nhl jerseys
replica watches
beats by dr dre
roshe run
ugg boots
winter jackets
wedding dresses
michael kors factory outlet
fitflop clearance
lebron james shoes
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors outlet
20151031caihuali
小方1117
miami dolphins
true religion jeans
mulberry outlet online
toms outlet
ghd hair straighteners
ralph lauren
snow boots outlet
mizuno shoes
black friday
uggs outlet
the north face
seattle seahawks
golden state warriors
mont blanc
nfl jerseys wholesale
michael kors outlet online
moncler jackets
tory burch sandals
ugg outlet
arizona cardinals
chicago blackhawks
nba jerseys wholesale
roshe run women
longchamp bags
atlanta falcons
football shirts uk,soccer jerseys uk,cheap soccer jerseys uk
barbour uk
kansas city chiefs
coach outlet store
philadelphia eagles
true religion outlet
true religion jeans
true religion jeans
true religion jeans outlet
true religion outlet
true religion jeans
true religion jeans
true religion canada
true religion outlet
true religion jeans
toms outlet
toms outlet store
toms shoes
toms outlet
timberland shoes
timberland boots
tiffany outlet
tiffany and co
tiffany outlet
tiffany jewellery
thomas sabo uk
thomas sabo outlet
swarovski outlet
swarovski crystal
swarovski outlet
swarovski crystal
swarovski outlet
swarovski crystal
swarovski jewelry
swarovski crystal
soccer jerseys
soccer jerseys wholesale
rolex watches
rolex uk
rolex watches
rolex watches for sale
ray ban sunglasses
xiezepeng 16 02 24
20160326libinlouis vuitton pas cher
michael kors outlet
nike blazer pas cher
michael kors outlet store
michael kors factory outlet
tiffany outlet
longchamp handbags
cheap soccer jerseys
kobe bryant shoes
swarovski outlet
ray ban sunglasses
nike air huarache
mulberry outlet store
cheap michael kors handbags
true religion canada
cheap jordans
louboutin pas cher
cheap nba jerseys
michael kors wholesale
michael kors canada
thomas sabo outlet
lacoste shirts
michael kors uk
coach outlet canada
iphone cases
snapbacks wholesale
nike air max 90
christian louboutin online
mbt shoes outlet
calvin klein underwear
swarovski outlet
louis vuitton bags cheap
cheap nfl jersey
soccer jerseys
beats by dre
fitflop clearance