You probably read the title of this post a few times Porto's Bake at Home?? And you probably wondered, "Have all my Cuban pastry - since I don't live in Miami - dreams come true?" Today the answer to that would be a resounding, *"Si! Como no!" That's a big fat Cuban, *"YES, PLEASE!" {Disclosure: I have not been compensated for writing this post, ...
Cuban food
Dos Croquetas For All
It was my very great honor to have been one of the judges at the annual Croquetapalooza event in Miami last December. I was invited by my friend, Sef Gonzalez, of Burger Beast Fame. This Grand Celebration of All Things Croqueta happened at the beginning of December 2019 and I came home and headed straight into ...
Vicky Bakery – Que Sweet it is!
I have been wanting to write about my experience at Vicky Bakery since I returned from Miami. But you know how life starts to happen and all the best laid plans go somewhere like the back of your head to taunt and itch and remind you that you're a slacker? Yeah. That's where we find ourselves today. My first morning in Miami, I found myself ...
The Food of My People
Today's giveaway is my very own. I thought you'd enjoy a poster of Cuban food for your kitchen, or living room, or dorm room. I don't know where you'd hang it, but I know you're going to love it. I'm celebrating, not just being in the Blogosphere for 13 years, but I also have a shop that's been doing very well, thanks for asking. Marta Darby ...
Porto’s Bake at Home is EVERYTHING
A constant since the beginning days of this blog 13 years ago has been my declaration of love for Porto's Bakery. No es por nada, but they have always had consistently delicious baked goods and have always delivered on both quality and taste. We get an assortment of Cuban appetizers for our Noche Buena celebrations every year from Porto's, and we ...
Homemade Cherry Pop Tarts Recipe
I don't know how I've gotten this far in life without making Homemade Pop Tarts. I didn't even know it was A Thing. Did you know it was A Thing? I guess it's because my old-school Cuban generation was more in love with pastelitos de guayaba. FOR A MILLION GUAVALICIOUS REASONS, but that's not important right now. So, my friends over at Melissa's ...
Mami Always Knows
For years - many more years than I'd care to admit to - I would call my mom with cooking questions. I remember my first attempt at Arroz con Pollo. "Do I have to use the pressure cooker?" (I got over my fear of pressure cooking pretty quickly, but that's not important right now.) "Canned asparagus. Really?" and "Is the beer at the end really ...
Elena Ruz Turkey, Guava & Cream Cheese Sliders Recipe
Ah, Thanksgiving. I love this holiday so much. I love that a day has been set aside to give thanks. And I have so very much to be grateful for. I especially love knowing that families across the country are gathered together around the family table, because to me that is an absolutely sacred space. I have posted about how I go about styling ...
Don Francisco’s Coffee Casa Cubana Is Like Coming Home
In the middle of the crazy that is Downtown LA, there is now a respite from city life. The new Don Francisco's Coffee Casa Cubana is the place you never knew you always wanted. (Well, I know I've always wanted a place to get wonderful Cuban food in Los Angeles, but that's not important right now.) I want to say right up front that this is not ...
Cuban Coffee is Everything
I take it for granted that there will always be Cuban coffee in the house. In fact, I don't even give it a second thought. My grocery list always has "Café Cubano" in a regular position. Before you ask, yes, we do consume that much espresso, but that's not important right now. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that it's the same way ...
‘Chef’ Inspired Birthday Celebration
"You throw the BEST parties," she said to me, "Why aren't you sharing them on your blog?" It's true. Even if I do say so myself. I throw great parties. Actually, I have to say WE. I am pretty much just the idea person, and it absolutely takes a village to make my great ideas happen. WARNING: Lots of colorful photos and extensive party details ...
Love My Skinny Latina
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 ...
The Smart Cuban’s Christmas Gift Guide
Who doesn't appreciate a little shopping help at this time of year? Of course, I know you can head down to the local mall and spend a few frustrating hours hunting from store to store to find just the right thing. Of course, there's always the issue of finding a convenient place to park and fighting the Battle of the Parking Structure. And this ...
My Big Fat Cuban Family Cookbook Giveaway
Happy November, everyone! I have to confess that I've been a slacker. I have a few more sponsor giveaways that I was going to offer in my 10th Blogiversary Month of October. Obviously that didn't happen. I did host 4 fabulous giveaways so far, (the winners have already been chosen) but I have a few more to go. Do I have an excuse for my ...
Cuban Food Posters For The Win
More reminiscing about what I've been doing for the past 10 years here on the blog and another giveaway today. It starts with a beautiful sofrito. The intricate dance between the warm olive oil giving life and flavor to the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. I could write poetry about the perfection that is a sofrito that signals the beginning ...
