Thankful - November 19

Today I am thankful for... Guava Cheesecake. (I know. Shut up.)

 

In keeping with my personal celebration of National Guava Month, (it's kind of lonely out here on this limb - *crickets chirp*) I made this to-die-for Guava Cheesecake.

And because I'm generous and cool that way, my recipe for this guavalicious wonder is posted today over on Babalú.

And furthermore, because the main ingredients in this guava-fest are guava and cream cheese, I happen to think this dessert goes particularly well with Kaña Cuban Coffee Roasters' Hialeah Blend.

(I guess it's a Cuban thing.)  =D

Celebrating National Guava Month (Oh, yes I am.)

It's a special Monday, Pre-Thanksgiving Edition of Marta's Cuban American Kitchen.

I have been trying, without much success, to declare November "National Guava Month." Sadly, no one seems to take me seriously about this, but that's not important right now.

I've taken up the cause on my own. And today I'm all over the place, both on Babalú and on the Tiki Tiki with the delicious marriage of turkey, port, and guava. 

Because today, I, Marta, hereby declare November to be "National Guava Month."

In honor of National Guava Month, (<--it's got a nice ring to it, don't you think?) I'll be sharing two guava recipes in the next two weeks.

Today to kick off the Guava Celebration, I'm making a Turkey with a Port Wine Guava Glaze. (You just drooled on yourself. Admit it.)

Next week I'll be sharing a Guava Cheesecake (because of a previous request from my friend, Cigar Mike).

Happy National Guava Month! (I cannot think of one downside to this. It's going to be epic.) =D

Who's in?

Cuban Stress Cure

On Tuesdays:

My son, Jonathan (13) is involved in Drama once again. This year they're doing a Broadway review - scenes from different Broadway musicals, which promises to be really fun and adorable.

I have volunteered once again to coordinate their costumes. Just call me Mrs. Darby, Costume Goddess.

(I may or may not make the kids actually address me this way. =D)

There are thirty kids in seventeen musical numbers, which means about 100 dresses, jackets, tunics, scarves, shoe covers and multiple wigs, uniforms, hats and props that fall under my authority command jurisdiction My-God!-what-have-I-gotten-myself-into!? supervision. 

I was asked to choreograph three of the numbers, also. (Most likely because I am Cuban and the obvious conclusion is that I can dance.) I'm wondering if the director may want it just a bit more elaborate than "wave your hands up in the air - whoop!"

Which means that on Tuesdays I am up to my eyeballs in drama stuff. And I have to admit that while I absolutely love what I'm doing, it also stresses me out quite a bit.

Not to worry. I have found a sure-fire Cuban cure for stress...

 

At the rate I'm going it may just be quicker to apply the guava directly to my hips, but that's not important right now. ;-)

(My foolproof and totally easy recipe for homemade pastelitos de guayaba can be found here.)

I do not think it means what you think it means...

Adam was looking pretty great the other day.

But there was some confusion over a conversation he had with my mom.

We had a good laugh over it. But we also had a great meal.

Click on over to Babalú today and see the most gorgeous Roast Chicken ever - Pollo Asado.

That's where you'll find the whole crazy-mixed-up story.

Totally worthy to be put on a platter. Yes, and the chicken too. ;-)

Go check it out today. You won't be sorry.

Someone in Miami loves me in a BIG way

My mom (yes, the 95 year old) has spent this entire summer in Miami visiting her big brother (98).

She just got back this week and brought me a fabulous gift sent by my sweet cousin, Yllien:

That's right. Giant, Cuban, Bakery-made crackers. We call them galletas. (Or in this case they should be called galletonas, but that's not important right now.)

Inspired by their size, I made empanadas over at Babalú today. Not just any empanadas... Giant, Cuban, Home-made Empanadas. or "La Empanada Que Se Le Perdio a Santa Barbara."

Thanks, Ylli! You totally inspire me!

Cooking with The Boy

I have to admit that my kids (all four of them) are usually great sports when it comes to any projects I ask them to get involved with.

(Eric would most likely insert the term "harebrained" somewhere in here, but that's not important right now. =D)

I especially love when they show enthusiasm in spite of not having all the details.

Me: "Adam, I need a mandolin to slice stuff. Will you come with me to the store?"

Adam (who has no idea what a mandolin is or what it's used for): "Absolutely!"

For the uninformed, a mandolin is a sleek device for slicing food quickly, expertly and uniformly. (This is the one I got - here's a link in case you're interested in getting your own.)

 

After the run to the cooking store and the mandolin purchase. . .

Adam: "What are we making this week, Mom?"

Me: "A tortilla. Not a 'tortilla,' but a 'tortilla.'"

Adam (who has no idea what I'm talking about or why): "Umm . . . well then, do I get to use the new mandolin??"  

I love that boy.

=D

Adam and I are cooking over at Babalú today while simultaneously addressing that age-old cooking conundrum:

"When is a Tortilla NOT a Tortilla?"

If you know the answer, please leave a comment. ;-)

Pastelito Delivery Service

The temperature has been in the double digits around here. So cooking has been a pretty low priority. If I do cook, it will usually involve the crockpot and rice cooker and me NOT in the kitchen for hours.

But last week, I baked! Yes, BAKED. And I'm not just talking about the day I spent too much time in the sun. (That's a story for another day...) ;-)

I made a big batch of my fabulous Pastelitos de Guayaba (homemade guava pastries). 

What on earth could have possessed me to go into the kitchen, let alone turn on the oven, you ask?

Desi, of course. (*be still my foolish heart*) My friend, Desi Arnaz, Jr. 

You see, I had promised to make him some pastelitos and the last few times we've been to Vegas (he lives close to there) we were unable to connect. But this time, his lovely wife, my sweet friend Amy encouraged us to come. They'd just be getting back from a trip, and he'd probably be tired and un-shaven, but would love to see me.

Could I possibly be deterred by a such a small detail as a vacation beard? Besides, all I heard was "... Desi would love to see you."

So I baked.

And, along with my Amy, drove through the Nevada desert in 110 degree heat to deliver the pastelitos to my friend (and teen crush, but that's not important right now. *she blushes*) Desi Arnaz, Jr.

 

He tasted them right away. (Notice the sign that says "JOY" directly behind him. Coincidence? I think not.)

 

He declared them to be delicious.

Desi: "Would you like some?"

Me: "Can you stop me?"

I have to reiterate what a delightful and fun-loving (not to mention, immensely talented) guy he is.

And of course, I'm grateful to dear Amy who took time out of her busy schedule to take us on a tour of the charming town of Boulder City, where the Arnaz's own and operate the Historic Boulder Theatre. Amy blogs over at Insights from The Magic Tutu. (If you stop by and say hello, be sure to tell her Marta sent you. =D)

The Two Amys. How adorable are they??

So, the Pastelito Delivery was a success. We're grateful once again to the Arnaz's for their gracious hospitality.

And once again, I forgot for a moment that he was the son of TV and Cuban Royalty. Until he asked if we liked his T-shirt. The one with the picture of "Mom."

I know. Shut. UP.  ;-)

Must Have Cuban Coffee

Kikita wrote this post under the influence of caffeine. You have been warned.

Mmmmmm . . . do you smell that?

That is the smell of the perfect Café Cubano. One more time, deep breath . . . Yes! Glorious!

Everyone grab your "tacita", sit back and enjoy it!

What's that?

YOU. DON'T. HAVE. ANY. CAFE????

**Kikita se desmayo!! (Kiki has fainted!!)**

**Mami holds a cafecito under Kikita's nose to revive her.**

Ok, so you don't have coffee to make espresso with. That's no problem, I'm sure you have regular coffee.

WHAT???

This is supposed to be the BEST part of waking up! Beyond that, it's supposed to be the best MOMENT at ANY time of day. It's the afternoon/after-lunch pick-me-up.

"It's terrible and wonderful at the same time! It's like freedom in a cup!"

Not to worry! I, Kikita, can help you! You know I have a guy (bueno, gal) on the INSIDE!

Through the magic of Facebook, I was introduced to a yummy new supplier.

Kaña Cuban Coffee Roasters.

I asked them for a sample and I couldn't wait for it to arrive in the mail.

When it finally did, it was an event!

(Isn't it beautiful? So full of promise!)

EVERYONE had to have a taste.

Everyone came to the same conclusion: RIQUISIMO!! (DELICIOUS!!)

So, I strongly encourage everyone to try Kaña's Hialeah Blend (espresso grind) and then come back here and Learn How to Make Cuban Coffee OR you could get CRAZY and Learn How to Make Cafe Con Leche. Either way, you gotta try this coffee.

I know you won't regret it.

In fact, you'll probably start singing (the way we all did when we had our first taste) . . .

Who's got the power?

How a discussion around the dinner table brought me to an amazing and life-altering realization which turned out to be subsequently good for my self-esteem. =D

Hint: It involves a scrumptious Boliche (Cuban Pot Roast) and Superpowers....

Read all about it today on Babalú Blog.

Then come back here and answer this question:

"If you had a superpower, what would it be?"

I want to know. I do.

Give me Liberty... or give me Cuban food!

We got up early this morning to board the ferry to Ellis Island and Liberty Island - where the Statue of Liberty lives. ;-) We waited in line for over an hour to climb the Lady's Pedestal and visit the museum there. By the time we descended, we were tired and hungry. That crazy kind of exhausted-from-all-this-non-stop-monument-viewing hunger. I needed comfort food (which of course, must be Cuban food, but we're pretty much captive on Liberty Island, which sounds ironic, I know, but that's how I felt, but that's not important right now.) So there's a cute little refreshment kiosk that had sandwiches and other tasty stuff including...wait for it...A CUBAN SANDWICH!! Yet another proof of the existence of God. =D