Papa Rusa (Chilean Russian Potato Salad)
Photo: Noelle Ferrada Kelly
Ingredients
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About
Ever since I heard about the earthquakes in Chile, I felt sad that I had not met most of my distant relatives, from cousins to aunts and uncles. I lost my Chilean grandmother to bone cancer 7 years ago and to this date it still bothers me that I did not know much about her and her life. What she did leave me were memories of her most wonderful cooking.
She never focused on recipes and she really did not have a chart of measurements. I think it was on one occasion that I asked if I could come over and she could teach me a little about the recipes she always made. I told her that I wanted to share this with my future family. Sure enough, a date was set and I came over. She showed me how to make Pan Amasado, which are Chilean-style bisquits eaten during tea or with a meal. Yet again, I could not write them down, as told by my grandmother, but memorize them. Sadly, I was only shown how to make 2 to 3 recipes. The other recipes I remember by watching her making it for a dinner or I remember simply my taste and flavor.
Comments
May 3, 2010
What a lovely story. I, too, wish I had learned more recipes from both my Great Grandmother and Grandmother (who owned a restaurant!). Like with your Grandmother, recipes were never written down and thus were lost when they passed. Fortunately, sometimes my "taste memory" kicks in and I am slowly able to recreate some of their dishes, but you know?, they never taste the same! That added ingredient of "love" they put is hard to duplicate! Cheers to you and thank you for sharing this with us. :)
May 3, 2010
Definitely! Thanks!