Picadillo has its origins in Spain, but it has been adapted and modified over the years by Cuban cooks to suit local tastes and ingredients. Picadillo is a versatile dish that can be made with various ingredients depending on regional preferences and what’s available. The base typically consists of ground meat (often beef), onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, and spices, but additional ingredients such as olives, raisins, capers, slivered almonds or potatoes may be included to add depth of flavor.
Like many traditional dishes, picadillo is often associated with feelings of comfort and nostalgia. It’s a dish that many Cubans grew up eating, often prepared by their grandmothers or mothers.
We hope you enjoy this delicious Cuban dish as much as we do and that it connects you in a deeper way with our extended Cuban family. Learn how we’re helping children in Cuba at www.forwardedge.org/cuba.
Letters are vital to raising support for your mission trip. If you have to choose between letters and events, choose letters. Here’s why: They work. People love to see others serve, and they will respond. Even if they might not go themselves, they can be a part of your experience.
Photography is more than just a way to document your mission trip—it’s a bridge to connection, a chance to honor the stories of those you encounter. As you step into communities, camera in hand, pause to reflect. Are you capturing moments with care and respect? Are your photos fostering dignity rather than reducing people to subjects?
I just returned from a mission trip to our children’s program in El Cobre, Cuba and spent several days with not only my sponsored child but some of yours as well! What a joy to see them face to face, hug them, and to share some quality time. TyAnn Hunt,
When I introduce new people to Forward Edge, I’ll often describe what we do this way: we help children around the world overcome poverty, discover their true worth, and pursue God’s extraordinary purpose for their lives. I believe these three descriptors are distinct and important. Let me explain a little
One of Forward Edge’s most dearly held values is the importance of relationships. And what better way has God given us to bond with others
6 yrs. old
Entered the program: July 2025
Bashir lives with his grandmother and four cousins in a four-room plastered bungalow-style house with cement and dirt floors. Bashir shares a bed with his grandmother and a younger cousin. Electricity is supplied to the house but is not connected since the family cannot afford to pay for it. For lighting, they use candles or flashlights. They have an outdoor kitchen constructed of bricks and use firewood for cooking and boiling water. Water is fetched from a nearby community borehole, and when it rains, it is collected in a tank behind the house.They have their own toilet facility which is semi-constructed. The family raises some chickens and goats for food and income.
Bashir was abandoned to his grandmother's care and she is raising him along with four cousins. She is the sole provider and is unemployed. She makes a small income from the animals she raises but meeting the needs of her family is difficult.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
