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My Big Fat Cuban Family

My Big Fat Cuban Family

Cuban recipes, family, heritage, and culture.

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Marta Darby

Bodies and Shadows – Getting to know Caravaggio at LACMA

December 11, 2012 By Marta Darby Leave a Comment

I am often invited to see and experience so many interesting and fun exhibits and shows that are specific to my general geographic location. For those of you who are geographically challenged by Southern California (no judgement, since you don't really know our state), we live in Orange County (The O.C.) about an hour south of Los Angeles and ...

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Nochebuena is coming and everyone’s invited!

December 9, 2012 By Marta Darby 4 Comments

We Cubans celebrate December the 24th. It's our BIG Christmas celebration with the extended family. And when I say celebrate, I mean we pull out all the stops. It's a PARTY. The meal is usually roast pork (lechón asado), white rice, black beans, plantains, yuca con mojo. And a great big flan (and assorted sweets) for dessert. It's ...

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“The Hobbit Book” Family Giveaway – A Winner

December 4, 2012 By Marta Darby 1 Comment

Thanks to all of you who entered The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Giveaway over the weekend. The correct answer to the "How many dwarves?" question is "13."They are: Fili, Kili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur and Thorin Oakenshield. The two youngest are Fili and Kili. Thorin Oakenshield is ...

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“The Hobbit Book” Family Giveaway

December 1, 2012 By Marta Darby 21 Comments

It's no secret that we are über-nerds here at my house. Serious über-nerds. When the kids were all little, I used to love to read aloud to them. They always preferred for me to read to them because "Mom does the voices." (But that's not important right now.) And because we have homeschooled for years, we all spent a lot of time ...

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CruZer Face Shavers – And the winners are…

November 28, 2012 By Marta Darby Leave a Comment

Thanks to all of you who participated in the comment giveaway for the Braun CruZer Face and the Beard&Head Trimmers. I chose the winners just now. I had to laugh because both of the winners were men. How cool is that? (This pleased me greatly.)Me with two of my hairy guys. So thank you to all the men who read My big, fat, Cuban Family and ...

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Movember Madness – A Giveaway

November 25, 2012 By Marta Darby 29 Comments

I have a husband and two grown sons. Adam is 26 and Jonathan is 16. Facial hair removal is a constant around here, although I have to admit, it's something that's not really on my radar. They shave. Or they don't shave. I don't really notice...unless it gets too scruffy. Then I'm kind of a mental patient. (I know. Shut ...

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Giving Thanks

November 19, 2012 By Marta Darby 8 Comments

Thanksgiving is obviously a very uniquely American holiday. Which is the perfect time for us to celebrate because we're a uniquely American family. Cuban-American, that is. I have the privilege of hosting my big, fat, Cuban family here in my home this year. It's going to be a smaller group than usual. Only about 20 of us, because not ...

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IMUSA Espresso Maker and Cups – A Winner!

November 13, 2012 By Marta Darby Leave a Comment

Thanks, everyone for your comments and entries and for “liking” IMUSA USA on Facebook. I always read through each and every one of your comments and I love that we all have one thing in common: We love the smell, taste, and warmth of brewing coffee.The winner of the IMUSA Bistro 4 Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine and an 4 Cup Espresso Set ...

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Keeping the Faith – A Giveaway

November 9, 2012 By Marta Darby 110 Comments

There have been a lot of twists and turns in my personal life (and in the country at large) this past week. It's times like these that send me looking (running!) for comfort. Because I'm Cuban, I can usually find my comfort in the kitchen. (Don't judge me.) A fabulous sofrito, a perfect arroz con pollo a la chorrera, or a sweet flan ...

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Why the Right to Vote is A Very Big Deal to Me

November 6, 2012 By Marta Darby 3 Comments

I was born in Havana, Cuba. My family came to America in early the 60's to escape the communist takeover of our beloved island home. We were called “refugees.” For our first five years in this country, we were Cuban Refugees. Sometimes we were called “Exiles.” There was never any shame attached to this. We would have stayed in Cuba if the Castros ...

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Most Recent Posts

  • “Veinte años no es nada.”
    October 1, 2026
  • Welcoming Grand #6
    September 21, 2026
  • Rocking Miss Molly
    September 17, 2026
  • America the Beautiful
    July 21, 2026
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    July 3, 2026

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Cuban recipes with pictures cookbook from My Big Fat Cuban Family

Follow Me on Instagram

mybigfatcubanfamily

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

I’m Cuban and I know things. 🇨🇺 Getting a house C I’m Cuban and I know things. 🇨🇺

Getting a house Cuban Clean® is not for the faint of heart. 

If you know, you KNOW. 

#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎

Pa’lante. 🧺🧹🧽🫧

#cubanclean 

https://mdarby.substack.com/p/8-rules-to-getting-your-house-cuban?r=ep04e&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I’ve been writing and over-sharing for 20 years no I’ve been writing and over-sharing for 20 years now. There should be cake! 🎂 🎉

https://www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com/2026/10/veinte-anos-no-es-nada/
There are things that will forever be stuck (and I There are things that will forever be stuck (and I mean that in the best possible way) in my Cuban brain and life. 🇨🇺❤️

Cachita is one of them. 
Please appreciate. 

Story link in bio

#virgendelacaridaddelcobre 
#itsacubanthing🇨🇺 
#mybigfatcubanfamily 
#cachita
Do you have something that gets on your last nerve Do you have something that gets on your last nerve every time? 

THIS is the hill I will die on. 🙄

Let me say it LOUDER for the people in the back. 
🗣️THERE IS NO X IN ESPRESSO.

This has been a PSA brought to you by @mybigfatcubanfamily 🇨🇺☕️

#cafecubano
#mybigfatcubanfamily 
#espresso
#America250 has us feeling all sorts of ways. 🥹 My #America250 has us feeling all sorts of ways. 🥹
My husband and I road tripped on Route 66 to the Grand Canyon and I absolutely had to over-share.
Because Cuban! 😉🇨🇺

Follow the link and appreciate some of what I believe there is to love about this beautiful country. 🫡🇺🇸⭐️

https://www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com/2026/06/getting-our-kicks/

#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
#mybigfatcubanfamily
Deseándole mucha felicidad a nuestro querido @will Deseándole mucha felicidad a nuestro querido @willychirino por sus cumpleaños! 🎂 

LA friends: Don’t miss Willy at the Downey theatre on May 8th and 9th, 2026! Come celebrate with us! 🎉

See you there! Ey-o Ey-o! 🕺🏼💃🏻

#willychirino
In these days of great uncertainty, it’s our cheri In these days of great uncertainty, it’s our cherished rituals that bring us comfort and provide great joy. 🇨🇺☕️ 

Also, I really need the jolt of caffeine💥 but that’s not important right now.😉 

@cafelallave 

#thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️ #cafecubano #cafecito #cafelallave #itsacubanthing
🚨ATTENTION LOS ANGELES!! Get ready to meet all of 🚨ATTENTION LOS ANGELES!!

Get ready to meet all of the local like-minded Cubans who are ready to celebrate the death of communism on our beloved island! 🇨🇺 

We’ll be meeting at the Federal Building in Westwood. 
Saturday, March 28, 2026
From 10 am to 12 pm.

Bring your family and friends, your cazuelas y pitos, and of course ALL your Cubanity! 
Porque nuestro día YA LLEGÓ!!! 🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺
Ahora si se está formando! Come be a part of the celebration of history being made! 🙏🏼🇨🇺🎉❤️
After 67 years, they’re finally listening to us and we deserve to be heard. 
Also, we deserve to PARTY!! 🎉 

In memory of our beloved Ziva Sahl, Fernando Marquez, Delia & Miguel Abascal and all our beloved dear ones who waited rather impatiently for this day. 🙏🏼🥰

Que viva Cuba Libre!! 🇨🇺❤️
I’ll see you there!!🇨🇺🥰

#patriayvida 
#mybigfatcubanfamily
#quesevayan
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, friends! ☘️ Today I’m O’C Happy St. Patrick’s Day, friends! ☘️
Today I’m O’Cuban. But my mom used to say I was “sinvergüenza.” 
It tracks. 🙄

Sláinte! 🍻😉

#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
My family left Cuba in early 1961. My brother was My family left Cuba in early 1961.

My brother was on the first Pedro Pan flight in December of 1960. Happily, my family was only separated for a few very tense months. But we were part of the lucky few who managed to leave the country rather quickly.

Once reunited, my father vowed we’d never be separated again and so when my older sisters were to be married in California, he packed up the family and we never looked back.

We lived in Miami for the first 3 years of our exile, before my parents moved us across the country, and so we made our lives in Southern California.

As Cubans in California – “en el exilio del exilio” – we managed to find other Cuban families and connected with the familiar community of people who spoke our language and recognized our customs and our food.

I’ve told the story of my family’s exile many times using whatever words the Lord sees fit to give my feeble brain. 

Tonight, I’m a white haired 70 year old grandmother (call me Wella😉) living in Southern California with the family my husband and I have created. 

My parents passed away years ago. (And I unabashedly miss them daily💔).

What’s happening tonight (on the island that saw me born) is that the people have taken to the streets armed with nothing but pots and pans and have been banging them for 12 hours as of this writing, calling for “Libertad!” 

Who could believe we would actually see this day? 
Who can sleep when freedom is so close you can taste it? 

Praying for the brave people of Cuba. May liberation come quickly! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Also, I’m shining up my own pots and pans. It’s almost time.
There are just no words for this moment.
This is OUR Berlin Wall moment and the cracks are already stating to show.

#patriayvida 
#soscuba🇨🇺 
#ohthecubanity🇨🇺 
#cubalibre
Happy #305Day, Miami! ☕️🇨🇺 With espresso love fro Happy #305Day, Miami! ☕️🇨🇺

With espresso love from Southern California. ❤️

#mybigfatcubafamily
#cafelallave
#305day
Public Service Announcement: 🗣️ “We’re all brave u Public Service Announcement:
🗣️ “We’re all brave until we realize the cockroach has wings.” 
Stay strong, my friends. 💪🏼 
Happy Monday! 😉

#mybigfatcubanfamily
Ahora como nunca, como lo dice mi socio, el gran @ Ahora como nunca, como lo dice mi socio, el gran @willychirino …

“Nuestro día ya viene llegando.”

May God be with the Cuban people as the hour draws near.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
At this point, I feel like this is an important pu At this point, I feel like this is an important public service announcement. 
Write it down. ✍🏼 
🗣️Repeat it. 
Believe it. 👍🏼
Don’t come at me. ✋🏼
Ya tu sabes. 😘

#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
Happy International Coffee Day! ☕️ Make mine @ca Happy International
Coffee Day! ☕️ 

Make mine @cafelallave!

Also, I’m celebrating 19 Years in the Blogosphere today! Woohoo!!🥳 

Please join me over on my blog for all the *“RELAJO!” 🎉💃🏻

*(That’s Cuban for BIG FUN.) 

https://bit.ly/4gUtFqv
Where in the world is My Big Fat Cuban Family Mart Where in the world is My Big Fat Cuban Family Marta? 🌎 👀 

I’ve been so super obviously absent from all my socials, let alone my blog itself. 
For a while there, I was overwhelmed by the once easy task of documenting my day-to-day life. 

Everywhere I looked, people moved on to high production video and I was hopelessly lost, so I put writing on the shelf and happily got caught up on all the seasons I’ve missed from the Great British Baking Show. 

But then, as I often say, “life is in session,” and my life was accumulating entire chapters before I could even type, “Oh, the Cubanity!” 

Which brings us to today. I’m starting to dip my toe back into writing online. Mostly, I miss the writing and telling about my extraordinarily ordinary life and the daily happenings at Casa de la Loma. 

So, tell me: Do you have any questions for me as I get back into the over-sharing of my days? 👀 

#mybigfatcubanfamily #belikemarta #callmewella #mbfcf
Starting my day as God intended. Amen. 🇨🇺☕️ #cafe Starting my day as God intended. Amen. 🇨🇺☕️

#cafecubano☕️ 
#cafelallave
Oh, the Cubanity!! 🇨🇺❤️ #mybigfatcubanfamily Oh, the Cubanity!! 🇨🇺❤️

#mybigfatcubanfamily
O’ Hi! 👋🏼 ☘️🇨🇺 Always representing. 😉 #mybigfat O’ Hi! 👋🏼 ☘️🇨🇺

Always representing. 😉 

#mybigfatcubanfamily 
#stpatricksday
Believe it. ☕️🥰❤️ Happy Sunday, my friends. 🎉 #o Believe it. ☕️🥰❤️

Happy Sunday, my friends. 🎉

#ohthecubanity🇨🇺 
#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
#thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️
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FEATURED POSTS

  • “Veinte años no es nada.”
    October 1, 2026
  • Welcome to Casa de la Loma
    July 3, 2026
  • My Big Fat Cuban Cooking Playlist
    November 21, 2016
  • Pastelitos de guayaba recipe with picturesPastelitos de Guayaba Recipe (Guava Pastry)
    July 27, 2016
  • 8 Rules to Getting Your House Cuban Clean®
    April 5, 2016

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Meet Marta

Marta Verdes Darby is a Cuban-American food blogger in South Orange County.

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