Albondigas

super simple and delicious, albondigas is the best chilly weather food. you can google it for a billion recipes, but i’m sure none will be as good and as seriously easy as my friend nancy’s. after all, while once eating some of hers, her young son miguel proclaimed “mom, THIS IS THE LIFE!”

-sauté a bit of onion and tomato in a soup pot until the onion is clear and the tomato is broken down

-nancy does beef albondigas, so she would next add water and beef consume (or stock). i like turkey, so i add chicken stock and water

-add in whatever vegetables you want- zucchini, potatoes, carrots…

-mix the meat with a pinch of white rice, shape into small-ish meatballs and set in to the soup

-simmer until all is cooked through

-top your bowl with shredded raw cabbage, lime and tapatio and eat it with warm tortillas.

Khao Pun

some of my favorite family gatherings have not been my own but my friend sarah’s. and, honestly, that is pretty much because they feature gigantic pots of
khao pun. as demonstrated by lorena above, khao pun is basically a bundle of noodles with a brothy sauce ladled on top and then covered with tons and tons of herbs (mint, cilantro, basil…), lettuces and lime. it’s so fresh and addictive. and goes really well with shots of hennessy taken out of risqué shot glasses wielded by sarah's grandparents.

Lumpia Party

my friend rita first introduced me to lumpia, in particular lumpia shanghai (pictured) and turron. i wish i could find a better picture of turron…it’s sweet plantains wrapped up spring roll-style, fried and covered with melty brown sugar or honey. serrrriously. lumpia party at my house!