Picadillo  This is wonderful to serve with white rice, sweet plantains, peas and a salad.  I make a large amount because it is so great to freeze in containers and always have on hand for dinner or to take to someone in need! I get rave reviews when I take this to someone’s house for dinner and you will, too.

Picadillo: 3 to 4 # ground beef (I use chuck  most of the time)

1 green pepper or 1 package already chopped from produce section

 1 onion (not small and anything but red) or 1 package already chopped in produce

5 cloves garlic, pressed(you can get the ones already peeled and in fridge section of produce NOT THE ONES ALREADY CHOPPED IN JAR)

1 large ripe tomato(you will peel, seed and chop at home; easiest way to peel is drop tomato in boiling water for a few seconds, remove w/ tongs and peel comes right off)

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon crushed oregano

1 bottle capers (you can buy the least expensive and about 3 oz), drained

1 bottle green pimiento stuffed olives (the size depends on your love of olives),drained

30 shakes red wine vinegar

4 oz. tomato sauce (but I always get an extra one or an 8 oz. can b/c I end up using more)

1/2 cup red wine ( I buy the Sutter Home cabernet in the little plastic 4 pack bottles)

 5 shakes hot sauce (I use Crystal)

2 tablespoons brown sugar(you may omit and use more white)

 AT LEAST 2 tablespoons white sugar (I end up using more)

12 shakes nutmeg

1/4 cup water

10 shakes salt

4 tiny boxes raisins or your own amount. 

 After this list you may not want to make it BUT IT IS So EASY!!!!!!  PLEASE MAKE THIS! It is so good.

Brown beef (stovetop)until all red disappears and drain in colander.  Put meat right back in pot.  Add 1 onion, chopped, 1 green pepper, chopped, 1 tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped, 5 cloves garlic, pressed(or minced), 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon crushed oregano and capers (drained) to the meat.  Mix and cover on medium low for about 10 minutes.  Add DRAINED olives (amount your choice), about 30 shakes red wine vinegar, 4 oz. tomato sauce(I add more), 1/2 cup burgundy wine, 5 shakes hot sauce, 2 tablespoons each brown and white sugar,12 shakes nutmeg and 4 tiny boxes of raisins. Stir and cook at about medium for 5 minutes or so.  Add 1/4 cup (more if needed) water and 10 shakes salt. You can taste and add anything at this point….don’t be afraid…more vinegar, sugar, wine, tomato sauce, nutmeg , salt or simply nothing. At this point I usually end up calling my mom or my sister and ask what they think it needs…like they really know, they live 3 hours away!! Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes.  THIS IS THE GREATEST MEAL TO FREEZE and have on hand!  Serve over white rice.

Rice:  Get your rice cooker and make Jasmine rice!!!  Picadillo goes over rice so make a lot.

Peas: I use Green Giant frozen Steamers bag for the microwave.  Prepare according to package.

Plantains:  (Platanos)  You may purchase super ripe (black) sweet plantains in produce department and peel and fry up or peel, spray with Pam and bake or even boil OR purchase  a box of GOYA brand ripe plantains found in the freezer section of your grocer.  Microwave according to instructions.  For those of you who are not familiar with these, they are sweet and delicious… a must for your family!