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My Big Fat Cuban Family

My Big Fat Cuban Family

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3 with 6 zeros

July 31, 2008 By Marta Darby Leave a Comment

I started reading Babalú blog a few years ago as a result of a Google search for “Cuba news.” From day one, I was hooked. The writing was always wonderful, sometimes provocative, but for the most part compelling. But the comments! There were people out there reading and caring and giving their opinions on what had been written. I loved the forum and the format. And like I said, I was hooked. 

I confess that I lurked for over a year. I would come to Babalú first thing in the morning with my cafécito to get the news and to be entertained. I gave up my beloved newspaper for this better, more expansive, and much more interesting media. I was never disappointed.

While I loved reading the news aspect of it, I was always drawn in by the personal stories. The human drama, if you will.  It was at this point that I started writing my own blog, My Big, Fat, Cuban Family. It was a perfect ying to the Babalú yang. I began writing about Cuban-American life and about how we Cubans try (and succeed) to maintain our cultural identity. I posted recipes and talked about my family and our idiomatic ways.  When Val asked me to become a contributor to Babalú, I was so honored! But I also felt like this was the obvious next step for me. I love Cubans. I love being Cuban. I love our idiosyncratic Cubanisms. And I especially love Cuban families.

I confess that posting recipes every two weeks is a bit of a challenge for me, self-imposed of course, but still there. Because I decided my posts would be personal and that I would actually cook and take pictures and do step-by-step instructions instead of just posting recipes. The cooking feature was a hit in my home, which I expected, but the real surprise came when I started getting, not just comments, but mail. 

Yes, I got mail. Lots of mail. Some had questions about how to make a certain recipe. Some had comments. But all had stories. THAT is when I was seriously hooked. I get to hear people’s stories.  Stories that usually revolve around the heart of the Cuban home – the kitchen. 

I get to hear about how Tia Conchita made the perfect croquetas and would I know how make those? I get to hear about how their moms would improvise in the kitchen after their exilio. I get to hear about how much they miss their abuelita. And I laugh and I cry and I marvel at what an amazing Cuban community has been brought together online. And I am oh-so-grateful to be able, not just to cook and post recipes, but to share life. To share Cuban-American life.

So thank you, not just to Babalú for being The-Best-Must-Read-Cuban-Blog-On-The-Web, but to you faithful readers who have given this “island on the web” such a beautiful Cuban-American face. 

Oh yes, and thanks for trusting me with your lives.  =D

Besos,
Marta “La Cocinera” Darby

(cross-posted at Babalú)

Today, as Babalú blog's odometer crosses over the 3,000,000 (yes, MILLION!) mark, I am especially grateful and proud to be a member of this group:

Babalu bloggers

My co-contributors at Babalú blog: L to R –
Henry Gomez, Ziva Sahl, me, Val Prieto, Reinier Potts.

Wow. Just wow. =D

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I love all things Cuban. I'm passionate about sharing stories, my family, food & recipes. I'm Marta. 💋🎉 @martadarby

My Big Fat Cuban Family Blog
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It goes without saying, because CUBAN.
🇨🇺🍮😉❤️#BeLikeMarta 🖖🏼😎#flanislife #itsacubanthing🇨🇺
Cafe La llave Espresso ice Cream Check my site for Cafe La llave Espresso ice Cream
Check my site for full recipe 🍨
(Link in profile ☝🏼)https://bit.ly/45QhRPN
My grandson Max will be 2 next week. I figured it My grandson Max will be 2 next week. I figured it was time. 🇨🇺☕️
Don’t judge me. It’s a Cuban thing. 😉(For those of you freaking out right now, it’s only milk. I know. Shut up.🥛😆)Full disclosure: my mom would give all of us kids espresso from time to time. The most explanation I ever got from her was, “Asi se usaba en Cuba.” 🤷🏼‍♀️Oh the Cubanity. 🙌🏼🇨🇺#cafelallave #cubancoffee
This chapel, called “La Ermita,” is dedicated This chapel, called “La Ermita,” is dedicated to La Virgen de La Caridad Del Cobre, and is located in Miami.
Part of the @peroletmetellyou Miami Tour, 😉
I was there to show my respects, but as I sat there praying, I was not prepared for the intense burden I felt over the suffering of our people.Today, September 8th, is her feast day.
Today, like every day, we pray for a free Cuba. 🇨🇺We familiarly and with great love call her Cachita. ❤️Please read my story on how she is honored in Cuban homes everywhere. 🙏🏼https://bit.ly/15bs9I4(☝🏼link in profile)Photo 📸: @peroletmetellyou“Nuestro día ya viene llegando.” ~ @willychirino#itsacubanthing🇨🇺 #cachita #laermitadelacaridad
Today’s PSA, some words to live by: “Toma choc Today’s PSA, some words to live by:
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Paga lo que debes.”And this is where I randomly start to cha-cha around my kitchen.🎶💃🏻🕺🏼
Who is with me?!Oh, the Cubanity. 🇨🇺😉#itsacubanthing #elbodeguero
The world looks brighter and much more fun after I The world looks brighter and much more fun after I’ve had my cafecito. ☕️ @cafelallave 💚🗝️🇨🇺🎨 by @ericdarby88#cafelallave #cafecubano
National Cuban Sandwich Day - from the archives - National Cuban Sandwich Day - from the archives - How to Make the Perfect Cuban Sandwich. 🇨🇺🥖This is a day I’m happy to celebrate. 🙌🏼🥳❤️https://bit.ly/1J31P2yStory and recipe link in profile☝🏼
#cubansandwichday
#mybigfatcubanfamily
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☕️💚🗝️⭐️Please click on the link in my profile☝🏼https://bit.ly/3NP9DRpLeave a comment on that post to enter,  and answer all my curious Cuban Coffee questions.🎉It’s time to wake up and smell the Cuban coffee, people! 😉Oh, the Cubanity!🇨🇺#cafelallave☕️ #cubancoffee #giveaway #coffeebasket
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This photo was taken on the roof of our Miami home, from where he convinced us we could see Havana. 🇨🇺 👀Please visit my blog for the entire story. (Link in profile☝🏼)Happy Father’s Day to all.
I miss mine every day. 🥰https://bit.ly/44749Xn#mybigfatcubanfamily #happyfathersday
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😂🇨🇺☕️💚🗝️
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https://bit.ly/3AIbWhL
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Alternatively, I’d like this written on my tombstone because I totally lead a charmed life:
🎶Lo que esta pa’ ti, nadie te lo quita🎶Please appreciate that he gives a shoutout to Betty (@portosbakery) & to @leonorgavina / @cafelallave.
That whole front row was the entire @cubanheritagela group.🥳🇨🇺❤️
One of the things I love most about @willychirino is how generous he is in sharing his incredible gift with all of us, his Cuban cubiches. 🎶💃🏻🇨🇺❤️I suggest you save this forever and share it. It’s the most encouraging song ever. 🥳Watch. And love. ❤️Also, the voices you hear loudest are me and my daughter, @kikitiando because CUBAN.🇨🇺#willychirino #cubanheritagela #mybigfatcubanfamily #portosbakery #cafelallave #themusicofmypeople🇨🇺
My daughter @kikitiano and I, along with practical My daughter @kikitiano and I, along with practically all of us who are a part of @cubanheritagela went to see our beloved @willychirino tonight. ❤️My heart is so full and I have so much I want to share, and the concert was phenomenal. Willy is in GREAT voice. 🎤It was pretty much the most epic Cuban sing-along (with the most epic Cuban sing-alongers) you’d ever want to be part of. 💃🏻❤️🎶He sang every song we wanted him to sing and it was absolutely satisfying.So he starts one of my favorite songs talking about how how he’s a guajiro. 🌴
It is the happiest, most danceable and sing-alongiest song ever. 💃🏻But then, he started a slideshow behind the music.
And there was Pinar del Río and the amazing “Mogotes” in the Valle de Viñales.
The very recognizable spot where my father’s ashes are scattered.
😭🌴💔So now I’m wrecked and weeping and singing along, but this song is now about MY Papi, another guajiro from another time. 🌴💔(If you want to read the entire beautiful story written by my daughter, Amy, please follow the link below or you can find it also in my profile. ☝🏼https://bit.ly/3mxvPETThank you, @willychirino por la noche perfecta y por tan bien representar a nuestro pueblo. Y mil gracias por la música. Me tocaste el corazón como siempre lo has hecho.
Te mando un fuerte abrazo. ❤️❤️❤️Also, thank you for the shout  out!! I’m going to be impossible to live with. 🤭~@martadarby
@MyBigFatCubanFamily#cubanmusic #willychirino #mybigfatcubanfamily
LA, You’re just too lucky! 🍀 Look who’s com LA, You’re just too lucky! 🍀
Look who’s coming your way on Saturday, April 15th: our beloved Willy Chirino!! 🤩❤️
He will be performing at the gorgeous Alex Theatre in Glendale, and it’s going to be a night to remember.
🔥❤️
There are still tickets available but they’re going fast, so be sure you lock it down.
I’ll be in the front row shaking my colita. Come say hello.
🖖🏼😎🎶Vamos a pasar La Noche Perfecta!!
🙌🏼🎶Also, please go visit the @cubanheritageLA account for a chance to win tickets to this fabulous concert!
🎟️ 🏆https://alextheatre.org/event/willy-chirino
#willychirino #willychirinoin concert #alextheatre #cubanmusic #unartistafamoso
Representing. 🇨🇺☘️😉 Happy St. Patrick Representing. 🇨🇺☘️😉
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, mi gente. 🎉
-Marta O’Cuban 🖖🏼😎#mybigfatcubanfamily #stpatricksday #ocuban
#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
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Marta Verdes Darby is a Cuban-American food blogger in South Orange County.

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