My Most Nostalgic Meal

So when I first arrived in America, from the Philippines, at age six, twenty two years ago (yes, I'm that old) my mother and I met my German American Grandfather at an "American" restaurant where I ate my first "American" meal. Now at this restaurant, I was greeted by a red haired girl in pigtails smiling at me from my place mat and from my beverage cup that held Coca Cola. I may not have spoken English or ever been to a Wendy's, but like everyone the world over I knew about Coca Cola. 

Anyway, my first "American" meal turned out to be a Wendy's chili served in a small cup that incidentally also featured Dave Thomas's daughter. It was covered in melted oozing cheddar cheese---cheese so melted that oil sputtered out of it--and this being my first encounter with cheese I was mesmerized. I thought it was absolutely delish. I ate every bite like the little piggy I was (still am) and thought it was the most amazing thing ever until later that night when my Grandfather made dinner and I was introduced to the love of my life. I mean food of my life (love? food? it's all the same) Spaghetti. 

It was serious, it was deep, and it has lasted my lifetime so far.  It was the texture of the meat sauce, the depth of the marinara, the slipperiness of the noodles, and the gobs and gobs of grated parmesan cheese. I fell hard and loved it ever since. Seriously, my during first four years in the United States, I ate it at every restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Not even the kids portion--the adult portion. It was kind of like food stalking. 


So tonight when I was faced with almost half of a leftover meatloaf, I knew what to do.  I was going to take this meatloaf that I was getting kind of sick of in its originally form (there is just my husband and I yet I make a 3 pound meatloaf) and transform it into something new something delicious something I knew I would love-Spaghetti.

First, I took the meatloaf cold out of the fridge and chopped it all up into bite sized pieces.  I wish I had taken a picture of that but que sera sera. Anyway, I set the loaf aside and chopped into quarters 8oz of cremini mushrooms. Yum--I am a huge mushroom fan. I throw the shrooms in with some olive oil and halfway brown them up. In the middle of all this browning I toss the meatloaf bits in. It starts smelling good right away because number one there is meat a-cooking and number two there was onion in that loaf and it is cooking again. When I can't take all that yummy smelling I pour in a jar of marinara basil sauce. I guess I could have made my own sauce,  but I really wanted this to be quick and easy. So I get this going.

While I get the sauce bubbling, I roast some peppers because I can go for a little color. Don't these peppers look good?

I chop and add the peppers and cook it all together for a half hour until I get the divineness below. It is comforting, savory, and definitely no meat loaf. 

To round out the meal, I bring in a baguette from my local favorite, Roberta's, and add in a nice bottle of red wine. There is nothing like going down food memory lane with a bottle of goodness to help the journey along. xoxo happy nibbling!