We had tacos for dinner the other night and I flashed back to the many (many, many) times I ate them as a kid. Tacos, made with the Ortega mix, were one of those family meals I could prepare myself. My husband, by the way, was astonished to learn that I used to cook dinner for my entire family. I did, but the only dishes I can recall making are the ones that involve hamburger. Aside from the tacos, there were two specialties from the Minute Rice Cookbook which, even back in the day, seemed totally outdated and, well, gross. We still ate them all the time. (Also, I should note here that my mother is actually a really good cook.)
Number one: porcupine balls. I’m serious. These were not, you know, actual testicles. They were large meatballs studded (ha!) with grains of Minute Rice.
Number two: Cherokee casserole. Again, no actual Native Americans among the ingredients. Just hamburger, rice, and some kind of spices/flavorings, chief (HA!) among which was the whole bay leaf. It was, of course, a special treat to be the one who found the bay leaf in your portion. Here’s a recipe which reminds me that oh, god, I forgot about the cream of mushroom soup. Also that particular recipe has black olives, which: No.
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First, I’m sorry we didn’t connect in New York.
I think I might try meatballs. Those would probably be a big hit one of these nights that I’m responsible for dinner.
But the bay leaf? My mother would put one in spaghetti sauce, and I always avoided it.
One of my husband’s childhood food memories is for porcupine meatballs! I got his mother’s recipe and made them once, and he said, “I remember them being much bigger when I was a kid.” Perspective.
Ha! I love that. Umm, gotta say, kind of grossed out by the Cherokee casserole option. Of course, one of my huge failings as a mother is that I can’t stand food all mixed up in a casserole, so naturally I don’t serve them, and thus, I have passed on my casserole-dislike to my offspring. Their wives will not thank me, I’m sure.
Love the tacos, but we always used El Paso at my house when I was a kid. Funny, that’s also the same reason I’m still buying Crest instead of Colgate.
My eldest boy decided he thought the Cheeseburger Macaroni from Hamburger Helper looked good and could he buy it and make it for us?
Give me studded balls anytime. Perhaps I’ll show him how easy it would be to do those.
Wow. This makes me feel like I had a deprived childhood.
I used to cook- if you want to call it that- for the family too! My fave? The dish we still talk about lovingly- you fried up hamburger, threw in cooked elbow macaroni & some tomato sauce, then you scooped it on your plate and covered it with – oh yeah- american cheese. It was called slop. I’m totally serious.
There was a time when EVERYTHING was made using one of Campbell’s ‘cream of’ soups. I’m not sure how we survived with normal blood pressures!
Why did you do the cooking?
Last night I made tuna casserole. With cream of mushroom soup. At my husband’s specific request…. AND IT WAS GOOD : )
Tacos are still one of my family’s favorites. The porcupine meatballs gave me a little shiver because I remember my dad making them, but instead of using rice, he’d add chow mein noodles. When they cooked up the noodles got all squishy and I always thought they were worms.
When I was a kid my mom used to let us pick out our birthday dinners. I always picked tacos and she always groaned because they are such a pain to make with all the sides. I’m so impressed that you made them yourself for the family! We never made porcupine meatballs but now I wanna try them for my kids.
This totally cracked me up! The one dish I used to make – it was sort of my specialty – was Mexican chicken. Chicken thighs coated with taco seasoning and shredded cheese, microwaved. It makes me a little queasy to think of it now, but back then I thought it was *the shit*. I make it now sometimes, but I cook it much differently. Like, in the oven.
Oh boy oh boy do I looovve food flashbacks. I can’t get over the porcupine balls!
My father-in-law made a casserole out of tater tots whenever his wife wasn’t home to cook for the boys. My parents weren’t much for canned or packaged foods, so they made their own hamburger helperesque concoctions. My least fave was just like the one Binkytowne most loved – only we called ours Macaroni Glop!
Very appetizing, don’t you think?
Mmmm a food post! We love tacos here too, the kids devour them..