We got together with our friends
Jonna and Mimi at
Tom and
Debi's house to socialize,drink mojitos and eat Cuban food. Jonna makes great mojitos by the way. I volunteered to bring ropa vieja. Debi says that
ropa vieja is JLo's favorite food by the way. While I was at the grocery store buying the ingredients for the ropa vieja, I spotted rabo de res. I haven't seen ox tails in any of the supermarkets and have been considering going to the meat markets in search of them. Well, beef tails seem like a close enough name. I bought several kilos of it to store in my freezer to make things like ox tail soup and
Rabo Encendido. Which translates as tail on fire. The heat is supplied by black pepper and Spanish chorizo. Not wanting to disappoint everyone, I decided to make the ropa vieja but also bring along a bowl of Rabo Encendido, after all we all want to broaden our culinary horizons don't we. This photo is of the Rabo.
What is a Cuban meal without black beans or rice? Debi made this Cuban classic Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians). She also made some really yummy appetizers, a brushetta with tomatoes, cheese and balsamic vinegar, but I forgot to photograph it. I wish I had remembered because it was a lovely looking dish.
These are bolillos, Jonna said that she got to have the Mexican experience of buying lots of rolls at the panadería. She was referring to the fact that often at the bakeries you see people buying dozens and dozens of these rolls. I think they are either making tortas or molletes.
Now we come to the ropa vieja. Not only JLo's favorite but Husband's too.
Let's face it, you have to have bananas with Cuban food.
These were baked with rum and butter among other things. It's not a dessert but a side dish, like candied yams.
This is the fixings that Jonna brought for the mojitos. The rum is called Flor de Caña, a Cuban rum now made in central America. I can't remember where, but maybe Jonna will remind me.
Here is a filled plate, showing all the food. Looks pretty good to me!
Husband is clearly enjoying himself. You can't really tell but he has on a guayabera over his swim trunks, just another Cuban touch to our Cuban food night. In the background is T&D's lovely backyard and swimming pool.
What is a Cuban meal without black beans or rice? Debi made this Cuban classic Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians). She also made some really yummy appetizers, a brushetta with tomatoes, cheese and balsamic vinegar, but I forgot to photograph it. I wish I had remembered because it was a lovely looking dish.
These are bolillos, Jonna said that she got to have the Mexican experience of buying lots of rolls at the panadería. She was referring to the fact that often at the bakeries you see people buying dozens and dozens of these rolls. I think they are either making tortas or molletes.
Now we come to the ropa vieja. Not only JLo's favorite but Husband's too.
Let's face it, you have to have bananas with Cuban food. These were baked with rum and butter among other things. It's not a dessert but a side dish, like candied yams.
This is the fixings that Jonna brought for the mojitos. The rum is called Flor de Caña, a Cuban rum now made in central America. I can't remember where, but maybe Jonna will remind me.
Here is a filled plate, showing all the food. Looks pretty good to me!
Husband is clearly enjoying himself. You can't really tell but he has on a guayabera over his swim trunks, just another Cuban touch to our Cuban food night. In the background is T&D's lovely backyard and swimming pool.
Looks delicious. I´m adding this to my links of "blogs I want to eat". I´m a HUGE foodie. Maybe I´ll start a food blog...thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting,Bluestreak, I don't post here as often as I do on my regular blog but I am trying to do better. I would totally love to read a Spanish food blog, there has to be more to Spanish cuisine than tapas and gazpacho.
ReplyDeleteregards,
Theresa
Flor de Caña is a Nicaraguan rum.
ReplyDeleteIt's my favorite, especially the añejo (aged) varieties at 5, 7, and 12 years old. It's smooth as silk. For a delicious drink, try the añejo with orange juice sometime!
mexico cooks! thank you! It was good in the mojitos, I'll try it with orange juice next time.
ReplyDeleteregards,
Theresa
That plate certainly looked delicious! I like ropa vieja too. My mother often makes it. However, she has never made rabo encendido. I think I ate it at a Cuban restaurant once. My mother is a great cook, but now that she is old, she prefers that others cook for her. She now buys a cantina. But does cook dinner sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHi Sergio, thanks for dropping by. I don't remember having rabo encendido at home either, but it's one of my favorites. One thing about living in the Yucatan most of the ingredients for Cuban food are readily available here.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame your mom, for not wanting to cook, I don't mind the cooking, what I want is someone else to clean the kitchen.
regards,
Theresa
I am about to cook some ox tail and am using your recipe as a guide. thank you so much. i can't wait!
ReplyDeletePrescott, I hope you enjoy it. Mmmm, next time I go to Aki I should buy some oxtails and make some too.
ReplyDeleteregards,
Theresa