Fresh Fruit Platter

A great way to start your day with a plate of fresh fruit...Here we have Oranges, Pineapple, Papaya, Strawberries, Raspberries, Black Berries, Kiwi, Star Fruit and seedless Grapes.

Cuban Coffee

Topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.

Meatballs cuban style

I remember for many years my grandmother preparing meatballs, very simple to make.

Meatballs Recipe

1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
1/2 lb. sausage meat
1 egg
2 table spoons bread crumbs (I use Italian style, if I don't have any other).
3 garlic cloves minced
Salt and Pepper

Add the ground beef, ground pork and sausage meat, the egg, bread crumbs and minced garlic cloves and mix all together, make sure all ingredients incorporate well together before preparing the actual meatballs.  There is no other way to prepare the meat balls than just picking up the mixture with your hands and roll into small balls, by the way I prefer smaller meatballs because they cook much easier and faster too.

Sofrito Recipe

1 small onion
5 garlic cloves smashed
1 small tomato paste can
1/2 bell pepper (any color will do, I prefer the red ones)
2 table spoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Dash of Cumin powder
Salt and Pepper

Heat sauce pan (high heat) and add Olive Oil, saute the onion until translucent, add garlic, bell pepper, salt, black pepper and cumin and cook for about 3 minutes, add tomato paste and let all the ingredients cook for about 10 minutes at med-low heat, stirring regularly.

To cook the meatballs with the Sofrito base you will need the following ingredients;

2 table spoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cup of Cooking wine
Sofrito base

In a medium sauce pan at high heat add the Olive Oil, add the meatballs and allow to sear by turning them in all sides, lower the heat to medium and add the cooking wine, cover and let it steam for about 8 minutes.  Add the sofrito base and let it cook for 30 minutes.  Serve with white rice and platanitos or tostones.


Bon Apetit!!!
Enjoy!!!

007 Martini - Casino Royale

This is a very strong Martini, called the Vesper Martini created exclusively for the movie Casino Royale, 007 film by Ian Flemings.  This recipe is according to Ian Flemings and James Bond.

3 measures of Gin
1 measure of Vodka
1/2 measure Lillet Vermouth
Lemon peel to garnish (I prefer orange peel)

Remember that James Bond 007 prefers his Martinis shaken not stirred.

Cheers, enjoy.

Don't drink and drive!!!

Brandy Alexander

This drink is very simple to make and very delicious, must say is not that light in calories, none the less is amazing...great for after diner.

1 1/2 oz. Brandy
1 oz. Cream of Cocoa
1 oz. Half and Half (I substitute for one scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream)
Top with whip cream and garnish with nutmeg (I prefer Cocoa Powder)

Le the Vanilla Ice Cream soften for about 10 minutes, add the Brandy and Cream of Cocoa and mix with a spoon, then add the whip cream and the powder cocoa.

Cheers, enjoy.

Don drink and drive!!!