When I first tasted this beef I was instantly taken back to my childhood. I know what you are thinking, "you didnt know I grew up in New Zealand," well, I didnt. I grew up in Bosque Farms, New Mexico. We had a small farm with some goats and sheep and a milk cow and a steer or two, sometimes a pig and usually chickens - all grass fed in our pasture with plenty of alfalfa and sometimes as a treat they got grain. We had a large garden with melons and cucumbers and tomatoes and chile, we had fruit and nut trees and most of all we had open space, unlike my life here in New York City. What am I getting at? This is my point - when I took one bite of this beef I was nostalgically returned to my childhood, I remembered how good meat was supposed to taste and I dont mean that meat is good I mean GOOD meat. This is by far the best tasting ground beef I have had in some time so to honor this beef I made a dish my grandmother used to make for me almost everyday for lunch (my grandparents had the farm and I grew up with them) - Papas con Caldo - otherwise known as Potato Soup.
Papas con Caldo is a simple dish packed with flavor and its so easy to make: brown some beef, in the browned beef saute some onions, tomatoes and garlic, add salt and pepper and then add broth, stock or water and let it simmer until the potatoes are tender.
Thats it, its done. Serve with corn or flour tortillas, red or green chile and you have a lunch fit for a king. This one is served with a little spoonful of green chile and a little sliver of fresh ghost chile (hottest stuff on the planet so be forewarned). Food of my culture and roots from my past - I will never let them go.
25 comments:
I love the simplicity of this dish. It sounds delicious! I love any and every kind of soup. Especially ones made with fresh vegetables like this one. I love the idea of adding fresh beef to it for a different flavor. Delicious!
It looks wonderful.
This sounds nosedripping good! The thing with taste and smell memories, I totally get that! It means so much, and I find my 42 old self always searching for my childhoods favourite taste and smells!
Beautifully written post! This would be a most comforting dish at my home. Thank you for sharing.
That looks super yummy and comforting!
I'm glad you had that nostolgic experience tasting this beef. Making a childhood favorite seems like the perfect use for this great quality meat. Thanks for sharing :)
There is nothing better than fresh meat (hmmm that sounds a little dirty....)
Growing up in Ohio we used to raise one pig and one cow a year. Then we would have them butchered and have delicious meat all year round. My father was also a hunter so fresh venison is also a favorite...yum!
Oh, YUM! Grass-fed just adds such depth.
Love the broth and that the individual elements shine. My kind of soup.
LL
It seems like the cool weather has bring out the soup pots from many kitchens including your.
Enjoy the caldo looks really good.
Mely
mmm, nothing like a dish to bring back good memories!
Love this! Simple, few ingredients, and delicous - my favorite type of cooking.
I would love to try that! Sometimes simple is the best way to go. Yum!
My dearly beloved and I both notice that meat doesn't taste like itself any more. I found an article about a Highland Beef farm near here, and I want to order half a cow next year!
I wish I had childhood memories like yours. That's why I try so very hard for my kids.
Smells and tastes are such powerful triggers. But there were definitely no ghost chiles in my childhood- the closest I got was horseradish on the gefilte fish.
Still, it looks like a good, new homey tradition.
This caldo looks so amazingly good. It's so cold and rainy here I would love a big bowl. Thanks for sharing.
oh and top with crispy tortilla strips. yum indeed. make a big ass batch of this and freeze for those nights when it's 20 below. those nights are coming....
Looks really delicious and spicy! Great for cold and wet weather.
this looks great, talk about comfort food! :)
I truly enjoy rustic soups such as this one and this is definitely the season here in NY to slurp one up! The broth looks utterly warming and delicious and all the chunky ingredients add great substance.
Congratulations on being chosen one of the top 9 on FoodBuzz. This soup will be wonderful for the cold weather.
Oh the memories! We always raised beef. One ever couple of years to help supplement the wild game and of course the chickens, rabbits etc. Our garden was an acre. I now buy my beef local. My boss has about 50 acres and raises a few cows each year to butcher. Nothing better than alfalfa and grain fed beef! 1/2 a beef almost fills my garage freezer. Thanks for the reminder :) I need to put my order in soon so he can buy a calf for me.
Growing up here where all cattle and sheep are grass fed, it came as a huge shock to me that they aren't in other countries. But then we can leave our herds and flocks outside all year around.
Michelle in Wellington, New Zealand
Delicious looking dish:)
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