Cuban Party Ideas

[wildernesslodgelover]

LOL, you can gain that back in one night with Cuban food!

 

[PearlySwan]

Frijoles Negros/Cuban Black Bean Soup​

Ingredients:
1 pound of black beans
10 cups of water
1 large green pepper
2/3 cup of olive oil
1 large yellow onion
8 garlic cloves
1 large green pepper
4 teaspoons of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano
2 dried bay leaves
2 teaspoons of white sugar
2 teaspoons of white vinegar
2 teaspoons of dry white cooking wine, preferably "La Viña" brand. You can find it in the ethnic food aisle of your grocery store
2 teaspoons of olive oil

Directions:

1. Empty the bag of black beans into a large stockpot. Core the green pepper and cut it in half. Soak the beans in the 10 cups of water with the green pepper halves (preferably overnight). Once they have expanded, cook them in that same water until they are soft (approximately 45 minutes).

2. Heat a large skillet. Add olive oil. Sauté the chopped yellow onion, minced garlic gloves, and diced green pepper. Add one cup of black beans to the skillet and mash them. Mix well. Add the mixture of mashed black beans, onion, garlic, and green pepper to the large pot with the remaining black beans. Add the salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaves and sugar. Bring to a boil for about 15 minutes. Reduce heat, cover, and let it cook for another hour.

3. Add white vinegar and dry white cooking wine, and reduce heat further. Cook until the liquid appears to have thickened a bit. If the soup appears to be too 'watery' at this point, remove the pot's lid and let it cook until it achieves a viscous consistency. Add the 2 teaspoons of olive oil and mix well immediately before serving.

4. Serving suggestion: Over long grain white rice. As shown below:

 

[PearlySwan]

MAKmom, of course the most important recipe for a great Cuban party is great Cuban music. Below you'll find a few great Cuban artists/groups and samples of their music on Youtube. Just copy the partial links shown below and paste after www.youtube.com. Many of these albums can be found on Amazon.com, others you can't get anywhere but on Youtube.com. Enjoy!


Classics...
Buena Vista Social Club:

/watch?v=ahuduPpZJQA&playnext_from=TL&videos=jeUuZTw6abQ (this is the Buena Vista Social Club movie with tons of great music)

/watch?v=INkLVwtIr_I&playnext_from=TL&videos=TDC7408UY9o

/watch?v=aZFAKZwtYdI&playnext_from=TL&videos=OTKMWe3Z9Cg

/watch?v=bJ4NOXz3gjA

/watch?v=bY-MOVsdhdQ&NR=1



Sierra Maestra:

/watch?v=as8oLwaGCP4

/watch?v=l746a6DdeLs

/watch?v=Hz1AeREQ0w4&playnext_from=TL&videos=_dclqEtdFyI

/watch?v=VkqP3_Z6l8E&playnext_from=TL&videos=8ey8LLXOrJ0

/watch?v=JNRLFEL-qhY&playnext_from=TL&videos=IJxIVdmtInQ




Afro Cuban All Star:

/watch?v=PhLOC-lh0mg

/watch?v=DWXYIH_bPF0&playnext_from=TL&videos=jJFmy0jVPH4

/watch?v=W-zEUka_kDs

/watch?v=Sa3U2GrZcho

/watch?v=kyreTymc3mI

/watch?v=f7_D4fLIHb4



Oldies but Goodies...
Septeto Nacional De Ignacio Piñeiro:

/watch?v=Y0TZ7h6QoZc&playnext_from=TL&videos=7bJ_X25VI0o

/watch?v=gx54_mZo6cQ&playnext_from=TL&videos=O2BNmTDXzAQ (Btw, this is the song that generated the dance name Salsa. "Echale Salsita."



Benny Moré (El Barbaro de Ritmo):

/watch?v=wt_6DvvNl7I

/watch?v=yYXEVfDdwhk&playnext_from=TL&videos=Q_ha1un8Is4

/watch?v=UiPV-t-tnKg&playnext_from=TL&videos=a_EYnaRYxHI

/watch?v=UQio5h6vweI

/watch?v=qlf4TlgtNE0




Newer stuff...
Orishas (These guys's music is a blend of Hip Hop and Cuban music. They are Cuban):

/watch?v=U6Yc-uVPo8s&playnext_from=TL&videos=TFY6RRu2ayU

And here's the 'Americanized' version of the above song:

/watch?v=U6Yc-uVPo8s&playnext_from=TL&videos=TFY6RRu2ayU



Yerba Buena is not a Cuban group, but it has a nice modern salsa beat (with hip hop mixed in too):

/watch?v=3emxTEG8Aws&playnext_from=TL&videos=rqWQvlSkNlk

 

[PearlySwan]

You do realize that Mojitos are typically Puerto Rican and that Red Stripe is Jamaican, right?

^^^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojito Mojitos are Cuban through and through.

 

[njcarita]

Y. U. M. I am making these THIS weekend!

How much lime juice are we talking here? 1/2 a lime?

yep 1/2 a lime......... enjoy

 

[PearlySwan]

1. Papa Hemingway

Ingredients:

2 ounces grapefruit juice
2 ounces white rum
Juice of 1/2 lime
splashes of maraschino cherry juice
lime twist
crushed ice

Blend and serve well chilled.

Source: http://icuban.com/food/papa_hemingway.html




Here's the history of the Cuban Daiquiry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daiquiri

2. Cuban Daiquiry:

1 spoonful of sugar
the juice of half a lime
a dash of maraschino
50 mL of Havana Club Añejo 3 Años

Combine all the ingredient in a blender and serve.

Source: www.havana-club.com/en/cocktails/cuban-classic/daiquiri.html#/466

 

[MAKmom]

MAKmom, of course the most important recipe for a great Cuban party is great Cuban music. Below you'll find a few great Cuban artists/groups and samples of their music on Youtube. Just copy the partial links shown below and paste after www.youtube.com. Many of these albums can be found on Amazon.com, others you can't get anywhere but on Youtube.com. Enjoy!


Classics...
Buena Vista Social Club:

/watch?v=ahuduPpZJQA&playnext_from=TL&videos=jeUuZTw6abQ (this is the Buena Vista Social Club movie with tons of great music)

/watch?v=INkLVwtIr_I&playnext_from=TL&videos=TDC7408UY9o

/watch?v=aZFAKZwtYdI&playnext_from=TL&videos=OTKMWe3Z9Cg

/watch?v=bJ4NOXz3gjA

/watch?v=bY-MOVsdhdQ&NR=1



Sierra Maestra:

/watch?v=as8oLwaGCP4

/watch?v=l746a6DdeLs

/watch?v=Hz1AeREQ0w4&playnext_from=TL&videos=_dclqEtdFyI

/watch?v=VkqP3_Z6l8E&playnext_from=TL&videos=8ey8LLXOrJ0

/watch?v=JNRLFEL-qhY&playnext_from=TL&videos=IJxIVdmtInQ




Afro Cuban All Star:

/watch?v=PhLOC-lh0mg

/watch?v=DWXYIH_bPF0&playnext_from=TL&videos=jJFmy0jVPH4

/watch?v=W-zEUka_kDs

/watch?v=Sa3U2GrZcho

/watch?v=kyreTymc3mI

/watch?v=f7_D4fLIHb4



Oldies but Goodies...
Septeto Nacional De Ignacio Piñeiro:

/watch?v=Y0TZ7h6QoZc&playnext_from=TL&videos=7bJ_X25VI0o

/watch?v=gx54_mZo6cQ&playnext_from=TL&videos=O2BNmTDXzAQ (Btw, this is the song that generated the dance name Salsa. "Echale Salsita."



Benny Moré (El Barbaro de Ritmo):

/watch?v=wt_6DvvNl7I

/watch?v=yYXEVfDdwhk&playnext_from=TL&videos=Q_ha1un8Is4

/watch?v=UiPV-t-tnKg&playnext_from=TL&videos=a_EYnaRYxHI

/watch?v=UQio5h6vweI

/watch?v=qlf4TlgtNE0




Newer stuff...
Orishas (These guys's music is a blend of Hip Hop and Cuban music. They are Cuban):

/watch?v=U6Yc-uVPo8s&playnext_from=TL&videos=TFY6RRu2ayU

And here's the 'Americanized' version of the above song:

/watch?v=U6Yc-uVPo8s&playnext_from=TL&videos=TFY6RRu2ayU



Yerba Buena is not a Cuban group, but it has a nice modern salsa beat (with hip hop mixed in too):

/watch?v=3emxTEG8Aws&playnext_from=TL&videos=rqWQvlSkNlk

You read my mind. I was thinking this on my way to work. Thank you so much you just saved me so much time.

 

[MAKmom]

Frijoles Negros/Cuban Black Bean Soup​

Ingredients:
1 pound of black beans
10 cups of water
1 large green pepper
2/3 cup of olive oil
1 large yellow onion
8 garlic cloves
1 large green pepper
4 teaspoons of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano
2 dried bay leaves
2 teaspoons of white sugar
2 teaspoons of white vinegar
2 teaspoons of dry white cooking wine, preferably "La Viña" brand. You can find it in the ethnic food aisle of your grocery store
2 teaspoons of olive oil

Directions:

1. Empty the bag of black beans into a large stockpot. Core the green pepper and cut it in half. Soak the beans in the 10 cups of water with the green pepper halves (preferably overnight). Once they have expanded, cook them in that same water until they are soft (approximately 45 minutes).

2. Heat a large skillet. Add olive oil. Sauté the chopped yellow onion, minced garlic gloves, and diced green pepper. Add one cup of black beans to the skillet and mash them. Mix well. Add the mixture of mashed black beans, onion, garlic, and green pepper to the large pot with the remaining black beans. Add the salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaves and sugar. Bring to a boil for about 15 minutes. Reduce heat, cover, and let it cook for another hour.

3. Add white vinegar and dry white cooking wine, and reduce heat further. Cook until the liquid appears to have thickened a bit. If the soup appears to be too 'watery' at this point, remove the pot's lid and let it cook until it achieves a viscous consistency. Add the 2 teaspoons of olive oil and mix well immediately before serving.

4. Serving suggestion: Over long grain white rice. As shown below:

Your recipe says soup but it does not get served as a soup?

What kind of rice should I buy?

 

[MAKmom]

Tostones- fried plantains mmmm

When I am in the mood for cuban (I usually make a cuban sandwich - which really isn't cuban I don't think?)
But I go to this website for recipe ideas
http://icuban.com/food/

Java what kind of crackers would you use that I can find.

 

[mjkacmom]

my parents are from Cuba so here are my suggestions:

empandas as appetizer

ropa veija( made in crockpot) over rice and black beans with fried banannas

and flan as desert

for drink Cuba Libres (Pour lime juice into a highball glass over ice cubes. Add rum, fill with cola, stir, and serve.)

These are the go-to food items my Cuban friends prepare at every get-together.

 

[MAKmom]

I got 3 bags of shrimp this week on sale raw & cooked. What can I do with them.

I would like to put them out as an appetizer but still stay with my theme.

Did I mention I love a party with a theme

 

[PearlySwan]

Your recipe says soup but it does not get served as a soup?

What kind of rice should I buy?

^^^ This recipe can be served as a stand alone soup (served in a bowl). But most Cubans will serve everything they eat with long grain white rice. Go to your supermarket and buy whichever brand of long grain white rice they have on sale. Buy the type that comes raw in plastic bags. Cook the white rice according to the instructions on the plastic bag. I always put a bit of salt and a teaspoon of olive oil on my rice while it's cooking.

 

[PearlySwan]

I got 3 bags of shrimp this week on sale raw & cooked. What can I do with them.

I would like to put them out as an appetizer but still stay with my theme.

Did I mention I love a party with a theme

This is a very nice Cuban shrimp recipe: www.cubanfoodrecipes.com/first_course/shrimp_stew_camarones_enchilados.html Don't worry about the amount of shrimp called for on the recipe. Your 3 lbs. will be fine with the ingredients shown. I've made this myself. It's delish! Yum!

Guess how you can serve Camarones Enchilados? Over white rice of course!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

But most Cubans will serve everything they eat with long grain white rice.

Isn't that the truth. When my DH and I first started living together he wanted me to bring home some rice from the store so I brought home Minute Rice and I thought he was going to have a heart attack that I brought that stuff home! I learned from my mistake quickly!

 

[PearlySwan]

Isn't that the truth. When my DH and I first started living together he wanted me to bring home some rice from the store so I brought home Minute Rice and I thought he was going to have a heart attack that I brought that stuff home! I learned from my mistake quickly!

^^^ Yes, only a Cuban would appreciate that kind of reaction. I totally get it. It's got to be the real stuff or nothing at all.

 

[MAKmom]

I am riced challenged but I'm going to try.


I buy Trader Joes Frozen rice

 

[MAKmom]

Here's what my father used to make, and he was off of the boat from Cuba!
He made this in the oven, but you easily do this in a crockpot:
Slice enough potatoes and onions to cover the bottom of the crockpot. Put a pork roast on top and cover with Mojo Criollo marinade- about half of the bottle. Cook on low until pork roast is done and potatoes are tender (~6 hours, depending on your crockpot). Super easy! You can stuff the pork roast with garlic by cutting slits and stuffing the garlic toes inside if you want it super garlicky- you can also marinate the pork roast for a few hours beforehand for extra flavor. Garnish with mango slices on top. Serve with black beans & rice on the side- yummy!

Do you slice or shred the pork?

 

[PearlySwan]

Do you slice or shred the pork?

^^^ Shred it.

Btw, my DH is also 'rice challenged' Here's how I do it when I cook it for my family. I pour about two cups of uncooked rice into a stockpot that has a lid. I pour enough water in that same pot to cover the rice by about 1 inch (don't ask me how much water that is I have no idea as I don't ever cook by measurement). I add about a teaspoonful of salt and about a tablespoonful of olive oil. Bring the water to a boil then lower heat to the lowest setting on your stove top. Cover the pot with a close fitting lid. The rice will cook with the steam. From the time you lower the heat, it takes about 20 minutes for the rice to cook. Enjoy!

 

[PearlySwan]

These are from youtube.com but you can also download some of them from itunes:


/watch?v=obkcG1JSzHE&playnext_from=TL&videos=GNWWHQ09GYU (Robertos Faz 1950s classic Cuban Guaracha)

/watch?v=_wPQhGLGW3s&playnext_from=TL&videos=VxdGRb_8zEY (Roberto Faz 1940s classic Cuban Guaracha-Rumba)

watch?v=3npgzpy7L9w&playnext_from=TL&videos=3u2XdEZTTtg (Roberto Faz 1950s classic Cuban Son Montuno)

/watch?v=Sa3U2GrZcho&playnext_from=TL&videos=Qc4UgdVCacg (Afro Cuban All Star 1990s Cuban Guaguanco)

/watch?v=onpJ6fLBif8&playnext_from=TL&videos=WeTTZ7KQA3s (Clocks & Buena Vista Social Club 2000s)

Casino (what later became 'Salsa'): /watch?v=uSZMiUhaF9k&playnext_from=TL&videos=EsNVon12Js0

 

[MAKmom]

Pearly, do I serve the potatoes with the shredded beef?

Can I keep the rice & black beans in a crock pot until I'm ready to serve?

Can I make it then reheat it?

I want to be done cooking for the most part by 6:30 when my friends arrive then have an hour of cocktails.