You know those people you meet online and instantly hit it off with? That’s what happened when I had my first phone conversation with the lovely Ana “Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful” Quincoces. (That’s just what I call her, but that’s not important right now.)
This was many years ago before she was a Food Network Star and the darling of the online culinary world. She was writing a cookbook called Sabor: A Passion For Cuban Cuisine and had stumbled onto my blog and a recipe for Guava and Cheese Stuffed Torrejas.
She called to ask if:
- It was my original recipe? It was.
- Could she include it in her book? Of course.
We talked for well over an hour that day and became instant long distance cyber-friends, the way it happens with Cuban women who have everything to talk about.
I contacted her a few months ago: “Oye. I’d like to do a giveaway on my blog featuring your products.” I barely finished that statement when she replied, “Anything for you. I’ll ship some stuff out tomorrow.”
That, people, is what friends are for. I love Ana so much. She’s smart and funny and oh-so down to earth. And also, generous. Which brings me to what we’re doing today.
Ana is also the creator of the most delicious line of sauces and marinades called, “Skinny Latina.”
Today, thanks to Ana’s generosity, I have some goodies for this week’s giveaway:
- An autographed copy of Ana’s cookbook, Sabor: A Passion for Cuban Cuisine. (My Torrejas Recipe, by the way, is found on page 204 of her book, but that’s not important right now, either.)
- Three bottles of her Skinny Latina Marinade.
- Some seriously cute Skinny Latina pot holders.
- A copy of My Big, Fat, Cuban Family Cookbook. (Because, Christmas!)
To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment on THIS POST and answer the following question:
- What’s your favorite Cuban dish to cook?
I’ll be choosing a winner on Saturday, December 17th, 2016. You have until then to enter.
You can follow Ana Quincoces online right here. You’ll also find her on Facebook hosting the Studio D Show. She can be found on Instagram and Twitter as @AnaQooks.
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Congratulations to the winner, Cristy Rodriguez:
As soon as I receive your physical address, I will ship out these goodies to you. Yay! Merry Christmas!
Karla Delgado says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook HAS to be lechón asado with a side of yuca con mojo! 😀
Isa says
OMG I have never won LOL let me try my luck again LOL. I totally love arroz con pollo a la chorrera con tostones o maduros yum yum!!
Kiki Bacaro says
I would say Picadillo over rice with a huevo frito on top is my favorite to make (and eat) but really ANY Cuban dish is fun to make! Let’s not forget the flan de Queso for dessert.
Natalie Olivo says
Picadillio is always ourgo to. Everyone loves it and it’s just so easy to make
Jennifer says
I’ll have to stick with the classic picadillo but I luv just about every customer an dish. I also love my mommas rice pudding but haven’t got it right myself.
Mare says
Hi.Let me try again ?
My favorite cuban dish to cook: arroz con pollo a la chorrera (con arroz valencia y cerveza). Y maduros de acompañante ?
Gracias,feliz navidad y suerte a todas?
Daima De Los Cuetos says
I agree…..a la chorrera w beer. Yummy!
Jennifer says
I’ll have to stick with the classic picadillo but I luv just about every cuban dish. I also love my mommas rice pudding but haven’t got it right myself.
Ashley Reyes says
My favorite Cuban dish to make is Arroz con Pollo;), but I like to cook Cuban food in general, lol.
Maria Makarski says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook is vaca frita. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it!
Tania Regidor says
My favorite Cuban dish is Piccadilly with white rice and plata is maduros
Joyce Guzman Farmer says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook is arroz con pollo.
Kim says
I do not have a favorite dish to prepare as i dont know how to prepare Cuban food but i do love it so much
Adrianna Cuevas says
Picadillo with a side of arroz y frijoles negros. I’ve never managed to master my abuela’s flan. 🙁
Teresita Romero says
Let me seeeeeee there are so many but my favorite to make and eat has to be Milanesa topped off with a squeeze of lemon, white rice smothered in black beans, and a side of MA-DU-ROS. There is always an argument about whether to make Maduros or tostones. MADUUUUUROS Please! :D. Thanks Martha, for all your great posts.
Christina Echevarria says
It would have to be ropa vieja with tostones and frijoles negros!
Omaida says
Lets see my favorite thing would be black beans .i could eat them alone. But I love a good bowl of guiso de maíz
Berta says
My favorite dish to cook is my mother’s recipe for ARROZ CON POLLO IMPERIAL. As sides I usually add plátanos maduros and a good, colorful Cuban salad (tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and avocados).
Greta Willis says
Love ❤️ that you are promoting Latin cooking!
Greta Willis says
Forgot to add that I love ❤️ picadillo con arroz and maduros
isa says
My carne con papas would be my signature dish…
Pilar Montoya says
Merry Christmas! ? my favorite Cuban dish to cook is Rabo Encendió con arroz blanco y frijoles colorados!
Brenda says
Black beans and rice every week!!!! Ready to try some new recipes!
Gesele says
If I could have learned to make my Abuelas carne con papas? Good Lord, I need this book,
Natalie says
So many favorites! I love making carne con papas or picadillo con arroz blanco y frijoles. And anytime I make either, my kids ask for seconds and thirds!
Valerie Stickles says
I have a few favorites- tostones, picadillo, arroz con pollo- all some favorites that my abuelita mama would make❤️
Miriam says
Picadillo is my favorite Cuban dish to cook…with fluffy arroz blanco. I add tiny cubed potatoes, raisins and aceitunas con pimiento. You know it’s good when your 91 year old Cuban mom calls you to ask: “Mijita, cuando me vas a hacer tu picadillo?”
Miriam
Danya says
My favorite dish to cook is ropa vieja.
Samantha Perez-Moren says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook is Ropa vieja! I made it for my now husband about 2 months into us dating and he was hooked from there.
Elissa says
Picadillo is probably my favorite to make. Also, while a bit more time consuming, I love making arroz imperial, which isn’t as easy to find in NJ as in Miami.
Cristina Lugones says
My Favorite Cuban dish to cook is Ropa Vieja 😀 so good!!
Glo says
OMG! In my retirement I have been trying to recreate some of my childhood favorites. My number one favorite has many votes on the comment page. I discovered your picadillo recipe and it is by far my favorite, along with white rice and maduros. Then use any leftover picadillo to make empanadas! I love your blog and the recipes! Your mom is great and I’m discovering so many Cuban stuff on your blog. I’m re-doing my kitchen soon and your Cuban food sign has its own wall!
Ashlee says
My abuela’s arroz con camarones! Mmmmm. I’d love to find a good ropa vieja recipe so far I’ve not had luck
Carmela says
Arroz con pollo, my favorite of all time.
Sandra Hernandez says
My favorite Cuban dish to make is Piccadillo with cubed fried potatoes in top. Over rice, of course.
TAMMY CUEVAS says
My favorite is Mojo Pork with rice and beans.
Laura says
Love lechon asado!!
Anne Garcia Benavides says
My favorite dish to make is picadillo con arroz blanco y frijoles negros. With the left over picadillo I love to make papas rellenas.
Nancy Garcia says
My sentimental favorite and all time comfort food—arroz con nuevo con plátanos maduros. Oh the childhood memories always flood my mind when I make the meal.
Elizabeth Maiorano says
Congri is my favorite Cuban dish to prepare for my family. It goes good with anything and is yummy by itself as well. Good old Cuban comfort food.
Marie Coppola says
My favorite Cuban recipe is one in my Cuban family for generations. “Frijoles a la Menocal”. I have never seen this recipe in any cookbook so far. Black beans cooked in red wine instead of water. I am lucky to have had the recipe passed down.
Jennifer Calabro says
I absolutely love making empanadas! My husband, who is Italian and German, says the reason he’s about 100 pounds heavier than when we were married 17 years ago is because of all of the good Cuban food I cook. 🙂
Jes says
If I’m cooking…Palomilla, arroz blanco y huevo frito is my go-to comfort food, or sometimes maduros instead of palomilla. If mom’s cooking… pernil!
Yamile Fernández says
I’m ashamed to say that I’m not a great cook but I’m trying so this giveaway would be perfect. I haven’t tried cooking many Cuban dishes because they would pale in comparison to my Mami’s cooking. I’d have to say my favorite is lechon asado con tostones y yuca! ?????
Aymee says
Arroz con pollo is a family favorite. Although, pastelitos de guayaba are a close second.
Diane Salto says
Flan is my favorite and the most requested by my friends for me to make.
Candice says
Piccadillo!
Yolanda Coveney says
My favorite is lechón asado…yum
Ivette Pieterick says
lechón, lechón , lechón
Leah B. says
It’s gotta be your crockpot lechon. Always a favorite in my house!!
Ody Fabregas says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook is Fricase de Pollo.
Maria Alonso says
????My favorite is Vaca Frita with maduros and congri! My flan de queso is always a hit too! I would love to win!!!Thank you’. Merry Christmas❗️?☃Feliz Navidad?☃
Lorraine says
My favorite Cuban dish to prepare is ropa vieja.;)
Zoila says
My favorite Cuban food is Torrejas!
Zoila says
I love making them for Christmas, I make them with ñ Viña 25.
Marisol says
My favorite has to be vaca frita with some moros and maduros. Oh, and you have to end it with some flan and un cortadito. ?
Elia says
Definitely Ropa Vieja alias Old Clothes!
Zeida Reyes says
I like to make “enchilado de camarones” shrimp creole on Christmas Day since everyone has had too much pork by then. Accompanied by white rice and Hawaiian tostones.
I just received today her cookbook from Versailles Restaurant! Love it!
Milagros says
I would be a winner by just winning a copy of your book Marta..this is like getting a grand prize with bonus.
My favorite dish is Arroz Congre, lechon asado, ensalada con maduro’s.
Nidia Rivas says
Oh there are sooo many, my favorite would have to be Boliche! I’m still trying to get it to taste like my Mom’s!
Lisa D. says
Oh, hands down it’s Ropa Vieja. I feel like Picasso when creating this masterful piece of yum! Seriously.
Drema Lopez says
Our go to Cuban dish is Picadillo, but one of our winter favorites is Pollo Fricasse (perfect for the snowy Midwest). I married into these wonderful Cuban recipes and have loved learning how to prepare them from my mother-in-law.
Cristy Rodriguez says
Omg!!! My favorite dish to cook and I’ll be cooking it tonight for dinner is Fricase de Pollo with a side of Platanito Maduro. I’be loved this dish my whole life.
Jacquelyn Hernandez says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook is arroz con pollo! It was my favorite comfort food growing up and now I love making it for my family.
Alby Besteni says
Happy Holidays, Marta! My favorite Cuban dish to cook and EAT is: PICADILLO!
Maria Konitshek says
This is so hard! I love to cook and eat so many foods! If I HAVE to pick my favorite to cook, it would be picadillo!
Maria McNally says
love both of you. i love your recipes and loved how easy the pastelitos were to make.
Maria says
I love your blog!!! My favorite Cuban dish to make is Picadillo , mostly because is so easy and fast to make!
Tanya R says
My favorite recipe to cook would be my Abuelita’s empanadas. They are an absolute showstopper and everybody begs for them, but they are special to me because we would always make them together. Now that she had passed, I make them every year on her birthday to help keep her close to me and my family. I miss her.
Tanya R says
My favorite recipe to cook would be my Abuelita’s empanadas. They are an absolute showstopper and everybody begs for them, but they are special to me because we would always make them together. Now that she had passed, I make them every year on her birthday to help keep her close to me and my family. I miss her so much!
Dania says
There’s a Skinny latin way to cook Cuban out there??? Who knew? I’m in..always thought the only way to cut calories while eating Cuban food was not to have a second helping. My favorite dish to cook is Arroz Imperial. . A multi step dish but worth it. With lots of parmesean cheese on top#
Vanessa Vicente McLaney says
I have many favorite dishes. But if I had to choose one it would be Frijoles Colorado and Chuletas de Puerco. OMG my favorite!
Erica says
My favorite thing to cook has to be my Abuela’s carne com papa! So delicious
Mari Z says
I like to cook arroz con pollo a la chorrera, avocado salad, and platanitos maduros.
Yum; I’m making it tomorrow.
May says
My favorite besides the typical lechon, congri y yuca are buñuelos. In my house they are only made with yuca and served with an anise syrup…love them.
Besides the traditional Nochebuena food, a must is a birthday cake; for me, since my birthday is on Nochebuena.
Everybody asks how does it feel to be born at Christmas? I say great because I eat my favorite food, celebrate my tradition (a true born Cubanita) and enjoy my cake and buñuelos with my family.
Ileana Hernandez says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook is mybigfatcubanfaniku recipe for Tamale en Cazuela. It is always a hit. Full of flavor and just provides that comfort feeling.
Rosy Cordero says
Omg I must have this awesome giveaway!! My favorite Cuban dish to make is picadillo. Happy holidays!
Barbara Hernandez says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook is black beans, it is also so my husband’s favorite.
Kayla Rodriguez says
My absolute best Cuban dish that I love to cook for my familia has to be arroz con frijoles negros y bistec y maduros??❤️ Oh and how can I forget the Jupina????
Faustino Rodriguez says
My favorite Cuban dish to cook is “potaje de frijoles colorados.” When I make them EVERYBODY raves about how delicious they are. I do it the old fashioned way: from soaking the beans over night to using the stovetop “olla de presion” that my mom gave me 15 years ago.
Maria Amanda Ruiz says
First time posting, long time cooking my favorite of your recipes… Picadillo. Freezes so well so I have lunches to take to work. Y mi abuela nunca me enseñó cocinar aunque me fascina <\3 Thank you!!
Kay Johnson says
I love to make albondigas (little bombs-meatballs), great to take to a pot-luck party. I love to EAT picadillo with black beans and white rice.
Carie says
My family’s favorite that I cook is “Old Clothes” ~ ROPA VIEJA, con arroz blanco, frijoles negros, maduros o’ pintones y una ensalada de berro y aguacate. OMG! I’m drooling. Soy tan golosa!! Love you to pieces Marta. Thank you <3
manda says
We make cuban sandwiches. Yum
Josie Pinero says
does anyone have the recipe for pasta para bocaditos like the ones that used to be served at birthday parties?
Daima De Los Cuetos says
Yes, jamon del Diablo queso crema y mayonesa. Yo le pongo una latica de potted meat y un pomito chiquito de
Pimientos rojos. Lo pongo en la batidora y queda deliciosa. I take the bread crust off white wonder bread and I put the pasta inside and I cut them like a triangle.
You don’t have to put the potted meat but I like to.
Josie Pinero says
My favorite menu is ropa vieja con arroz blanco y platanos maduros
Daima De Los Cuetos says
I like to make arroz con pollo y tostones.