Parker West
January 29, 2020
Professor Miller
Favorite meal essay
Swedish Meatballs
As the snow begins to fall, and Christmas lights begin to get strung along the houses, I usually have one thing on my mind, and it’s not Christmas. Everyone that lives in my house knows very well that as the holiday season approaches it means that my mom will be making Swedish meatballs soon. This meal does more than just feed us, but it also brings everyone’s spirits up, as we all love it so much.
Growing up, my mother always kept a large part of my life associated with my Swedish heritage. Due primarily to the fact that she was born in Sweden, my mother has an unlimited knowledge of the cuisine, culture, etc. The one meal however, that I have designated as my favorite, is one of the simplest, yet tastiest of them all. Every holiday season, my mom takes over the kitchen and prepares a large assortment of Swedish foods into a full-blown Swedish smorgasbord. Within this smorgasbord lies a dish that consists of Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, and lingonberries. Lingonberries are small red berries that can be bought at most grocery stores or Scandinavian shops. The taste somewhat resembles cranberries but is usually a little sweeter when served with a meal. This meal may seem somewhat unsophisticated, but it provides flavors that are unmatched in my personal opinion. Just the thought of this meal fills me with the warmth and comfort that I associate with my home. For my mother, “this dish reminds [her] of [her] grandmother, who taught [her] to make Swedish meatballs growing up. This dish reminds [her] of where [she] came from.” This meal has been in my family for many generations, and “has been made for [me] by my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.” For those reasons alone, it holds a special place in my heart. Eating this meal is viewed as a special occasion in my house and is a time where everyone is able to sit down, have a good time, and enjoy a great meal.
When preparing this meal, it usually takes about an hour, due to the fact that we home-make the meatballs and gravy. In terms of price for all the ingredients/ preparation, it is not expensive at all. The main ingredients consist of ground beef, potatoes, flour (for the gravy), and lingonberries. Once the meal is finished, as my mother explains it, “you will have a dish that has a nice variety of both colors and flavors.” This meal is prepared best when the lingonberries are ripe, the potatoes are soft, and the gravy is creamy. In terms of leftovers, I am not so much a fan of this meal cold as it is warm. Mostly due to the fact that mashed potatoes are not the same leftover, I am quite particular that this meal is made fresh.
When eating this meal, I would recommend that you take bites with all the parts of the dish in it. The warm potatoes and meatballs combined with the sweet, cold lingonberries makes for a flavorful experience with every bite. Personally, I choose to cover almost my whole meal in gravy, as it is debatably my favorite part. Something about warm gravy just reminds me of home, and the comfort of eating with your family. This meal can be eaten for lunch or dinner, whichever your preference. Also, you can buy this meal at IKEA, but I would withhold, as it is much better homemade.
For these reasons, I can confidently say that Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, lingonberries, and gravy is my favorite meal. My whole family enjoys sitting down and eating this meal together, and that alone makes it something I hold very close to my heart. If the time every presents itself where you are not sure what to make for dinner, I highly recommend that you give this recipe a try.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1lb of ground beef
- 1lb of ground pork
- 1 medium onion diced
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lingonberries
- Potatoes
- Flour
Mix all ingredients until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1- 11/2 inch thick meatballs
Add some olive oil or butter to a skillet and add meatballs in batches, and cook until all sides are browned (usually 4-5 minutes).
Prepare mashed potatoes to liking and serve next to meatballs.
Gravy can be prepared using some of the meatball drippings and flour left to simmer in a pot.
