Cooking with Mom: Lumpia Lettuce Wraps with Turkey & Veggies

Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away, so most of us have a pretty good idea of what we're going to cook on the big day. (Right??) We tend to focus on The Dinner, but we can't forget about what we're going to feed all the guests that arrive early! In my family, everyone loves to come over as soon as possible, especially to watch all of the football games. So, there needs to be a couple of dishes on the buffet table for everyone to munch on. This lettuce wrap recipe is perfect for gameday and as a light lunch! (No spoiled appetites!)

My mom and I came up with this recipe together, something that I'm extremely grateful for. A year ago, she was sick in the hospital, and the holiday was so far from our minds. I couldn't even begin to plan a big Thanksgiving dinner. Somehow, though, my sister and I were able to put one together at the very last minute. The food was great, and we were all happy to be home...but it was still rushed and a bit of a bittersweet night. This year, Mom is healthy and ready to enjoy the 2013 holiday on our terms!

Turkey & Asiago Meatballs with Mushroom-Tomato Ragout

My childhood was filled with Filipino food all day-everyday. In our house, it was longanisa for breakfast, adobo for lunch, then kare-kare for dinner. And dessert? Sliced mangoes or a few scoops of ube ice cream.

Whenever we had food from other cuisines, such as American or Italian, it was usually from a restaurant. (The first time that I ever ate macaroni and cheese was when I was 13...at a buffet.) My mom and I didn't start cooking many non-Filipino recipes together until I was a lot older. (Credit: The Food Network Boom. Seriously.) Then, my curiosity and appetite only grew when my home-ec class introduced me to foods like chili, caramel apples, and fudge. The fun part about cooking on my own now is that I get to dabble in a little bit of everything. Culinary school and my time spent traveling have only made that curiosity and appetite to learn grow even more.

Today, it's all about a couple of classics: meatballs & tomato sauce. As much as I love sticking to my Filipino and Pacific Island roots, and as much as I enjoy fusion dishes, it's always nice when I get to cook hearty, traditional comfort food from other cuisines. This is the kind of recipe that involves some serious love & labor over a hot stove...lots of sauteing, simmering, and stirring with wooden spoons. And, when you really think about it, there are many cultures all around the world that can relate to this. So, for something a little different yet still so familiar...Turkey & Asiago Meatballs with Mushroom-Tomato Ragout!