Cooking With the Troops or Meet Team Cubanaso

I have spent the last three days thinking about what I want to say about our experience in San Antonio and Cooking With the Troops.

My family has talked and talked and rehashed almost every detail of our weekend, multiple times. And I'm still at a loss for words to describe all that we experienced. I'm just going to post lots of photos and try to give you a feel for what we experienced.

When I first received the invitation to join Cooking With the Troops in Texas in July, I didn't hesitate before I agreed. I can think of no higher honor than doing what I do best to say thank you to those who have sacrificed everything for my personal freedom.

I don't have photos of the troops we served because so many of those that we met over the weekend gave up their limbs and a normal life so we could continue to enjoy the freedoms that we do. Many were waiting for prosthetics. The Warrior and Family Support Center is a beautiful home-like healing facility with an air conditioned kitchen (Thank you, God!). I was grateful that we could be there to do this one act of charity for these, our best and bravest.

They are absolutely heroes and it was our great pleasure to serve them. What an honor!

But let me tell you about the Amazing Volunteers (or Team Cubanaso):

The first thing I want you to know about these people, (including my own family) is that when asked if they were interested in doing this, (San Antonio, Texas in July, people!) not one of them hesitated. "Of course. What can I do?" And that was the attitude that carried through the entire weekend.

The guys from Dos Cubanos Pig Roasts (Texas, you are sooo lucky!) brought their expertise, four pigs, and their families. (Yay! More Cubans!) I think that might just have to be a separate post altogether. (Go "like" them on Facebook right now, please.)

Pig Roasting is their specialty, but Joey Lay and Jorge Carmona were able and willing to help in the kitchen as well. (Yes, that's Jonathan working on his professional photo-bombing skills, but that's not important right now.)

Val from Babalú was there knee deep in Cajas Chinas and pig fixins.

Because this was a service to the military, they named him Point Man on the Pigs. He proved more than capable in his role (thank you, Val and Caja China people)! They started preparing the coals at 5 am.

By 9:00 am, it was time for the Pig Flip.

The pigs were done by 10:30. And the aroma went out in a cartoon-like-smoke-with-a-beckoning-hand and by 11:00 the guys were gathering around to get their first taste of the lechón asado, Cuban-style.

Once the pigs were done, Val came in to help Adam and Jon cut (more!) onions & garlic for the mojo for the yuca.

Our menu? A typical Nochebuena feast:

We spent all of Thursday and most of Friday morning prepping for our Friday lunch. Which meant cutting pounds and pounds of onion, garlic, and peppers for the Sofrito Que Se Le Perdio a Santa Barbara (as my mom would say).

We had 3 vats (VATS!) of Black Beans that turned out delicious thanks to the hard work by Val and Amy Kikita and the generosity of Conchita Foods. At this point, the aroma from the sofrito, the beans and the pigs had people wandering hungrily into the kitchen, which was great.

There was a lot of fun and camaraderie happening in the kitchen, along with a lot of hard work. (We Cubans would call it "relajo." =D)

Chef Ellen Adams of Red Hot Dish was responsible for dinner that night (couscous!) and Heather Solos of Home-Ec 101 was everywhere you wanted her to be. Both of these amazing women were so willing to lend a helping hand, and always with a smile. (When I grow up, they are who I want to be.)

Here's Jonathan helping with Ellen's fabulous couscous.

My family fell in love with these guys (yes, even you, Mike Russo!) and I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual.

I can't stress enough how every one of these volunteers pitched in wherever they were needed. We worked hard and long and shoulder to shoulder. And we bonded. We bonded in that gosh-that-was-exhausting-work-and-more-fun-than-it-should-be way. Every single person had that "What can I do?" attitude.

Let me just take a moment to talk about my kids.

Thing one: I was so happy they were all able to go on this trip. And I had all four of them with me all weekend - win!

Thing two: They all surprised and amazed me with how willing they were to step up and do whatever was required. What began as helping-mom-do-her-thing became a labor of love for them individually. I loved that they took ownership of the preparations themselves.

Thing three: No way would I have been able to prepare my share of the food without my family. I am completely at a loss. They went way above and beyond any expectations I had and I'm completely grateful and oh, so proud of them all.

Let me introduce you to Jorge, who managed the beautiful Warriors & Family Support Center at Fort Sam Houston. He is Puerto Rican and provided us with our music while we worked (and managed to locate some espresso for us Cubans). In fact, it was a little emotional prepping all this Cuban food with support from Celia, Beny, and Willy. ;-) Thank you, Jorge! (He was still gushing about the amazing food we provided as we were saying our goodbyes.)

I was quite proud that I managed (with lots of help) to prepare 300 of my famous Homemade Pastelitos de Guayaba.

Although the volume was obviously much, much greater than anything I ever make, I felt like I was feeding my own family. I know it sounds corny, but with every dish we felt that same way. Like we were feeding family. (Maybe that's why everything tasted so great?)

But then there was the fiasco with the rice, because really, could everything go perfectly smoothly when you're making lunch for these many people?

I confess that I had no clue how to make rice for 250 people (300 was the final count.). So Adam and I winged it and we got some rice that was cooked on top but hard on the bottom. We also managed to burn some. At 10:30, with the 12:00 deadline looming, the rice was a mess and I was close to having a breakdown.

Jorge Carmona's family to the rescue! They had done congris before at a pig roast event and had encountered the same problems. "Just take small batches, add water, and cook in the microwave." Without hesitation, they stepped up and did just that and rescued the rice. I don't think I could be more grateful. What's better than having a Cuban cook in the kitchen? LOTS of Cuban cooks in the kitchen. ;-)

Amazingly, we Cubans managed to get the food out and on the tables at 12:00 military time. This is quite a feat when you usually run on Cuban time. 

The warriors and their families came through the line and even though the food was foreign for many of them, they ooh-ed and aah-ed and came back for seconds and dove right into the yuca con mojo and the plantains (Thanks, Goya Foods!) without a second thought.

I was most pleased when the guys with the Hispanic surnames came through. They recognized the music. They recognized the food. "Is that guava??" And they were grateful for this "little piece of home."

Much gratitude to the CEO of Cooking With the Troops, Blake Powers who pulled us all together for this amazing experience and gave us the opportunity to serve. Thank you, Blake and cwtt.org. We have all been forever changed by this experience.

And to Mr. Bob Miller, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer and All Around Classy Guy.

I thank you all for the privilege of serving side-by-side with you.

I don't have words to express the gratitude and admiration I feel for the volunteers, the warriors and their families. Thank you all for your service.

Let it be known that we Cubans are very proud Americans.

(cross-posted on Babalú blog)

More on this event also posted at Blackfive and Home-Ec 101.

Comments

[Val Prieto]

There's never a box of kleenex around when I need one.

[Candice Gonzales]

WoW! I love the way you put this post together to show this great act of generosity for the men and women that keep us safe. Q dios le sigue bendiciendo Marta, you're wonderful :)

[Heather Solos]

Marta, your family left an indelible mark on my life this past week. Thank you for bringing them and being a part of this. I hope someday we get to do this again.

[Blake Powers]

Marta, I can't say how much Bob and I appreciate your doing this, and for the chance to meet you and some of your wonderful family! The honor was ours, and it was an amazing experience because of all of you. Thank you so much, for everything.

Dang dust is flying, getting in my eyes again

[Ileana Dominguez]

Marta first and foremost let me say what a wonderful thing you, your family and all those wonderful volunteers did - AMAZING.

On another note, IT IS SUCH A SMALL WORLD - Jorge Carmona - I have known him since he was a young boy - his parents have been my next door neighbors here in Miami for 22 years - he is a remarkable man and his parents are wonderful people - COULD NOT ASK FOR BETTER NEIGHBORS.

God bless you Marta.

Ileana Dominguez

[Annie]

Marti, I have been following this journey via Facebook and love how you told the story here on your blog. What you did - what you do - makes me very proud to be Cuban American. Thank you!

Mike and I have been huge supporters of the Wounded Warrior Project for some time now, and when I showed him the photos of La Caja China and who all this was benefitting, he stood proud.

Congratulations to you, your family, and the entire team for doing us proud!

[Eric Darby]

Wonderful post, honey! What a fantastic experience for all of us.

[[email protected]]

marta you said it beautifully. You have an amazing family. We really enjoyed meeting everyone and hope we can do it again soon. I'm sure they have a facility like this in California right :0

God Bless

[Ana Amador]

On behalf of thousands of US citizens we want to thank you all for this wonderful and unselfish act of kindness and for sharing a little bit of our culture and tradition with these heroes.The US Arm Forces are always in my prayers with thankfulness and grattitude for their unselfish sacrifice to keep America free and we,the people away from harm's way.God bless our troops,God bless each and everyone one of you and God bless America.

[Marta M. Darby]

Shut up.

[Marta M. Darby]

Hi Candice,

Thanks. I struggled so much in the writing. I had so much more to say, but felt these photos told the story best.

Besos,
Marta

[Marta M. Darby]

Thanks, Heather.

My entire family loved working with and spending time with you. I'm so glad to have found you. You are a treasure!

[Marta M. Darby]

Blake,

Thank YOU. We want you to keep us at the top of your list when another opportunity like this comes along. What an honor. Thanks for making it happen.

[Lisa]

As a wife of an re-enlisted soldier, this is awesome. Showed my hubby and he loved it. You guys are wonderful! Hugs

[Marta M. Darby]

Ileana,

It's a small Cuban world after all. I LOVE THAT.
The Carmonas are an awesome family. So glad we got to spend time with them.

Besos!

[Marta M. Darby]

Thanks, Annie.

So cool that you are supporters. It was quite amazing for us who are so grateful to this country to have the honor to serve those who defend her.

[Marta M. Darby]

Jorge,

One thing I know for sure: We must stay in touch. You guys were awesome!

Besos,
Marta

[Marta M. Darby]

Ana,

Thank you. You made me cry. ;-)

Marta

[Marta M. Darby]

Lisa,

It was our privilege and pleasure to serve in this small way.
Thanks for your kind words and to your husband for his selfless service.

Besos,
Marta

[keb]

BEAUTY. I was praying for yr wkend w/ the troops; I knew you'd do a fabulous job for our wonderful military folks. Well done!

[Micaminar]

Wow Marta! The pictures convey such a beautiful event and I am glad you came out in some pics too! What a rewarding feeling you must have. Congratulations.

[Presley's Pantry]

What a great honor. The food looks out of this world.

[Carrie]

I want to cry!!! That is so beautiful...so, so beautiful.
I can imagine the Latino soldiers being so excited to have their people and their culture represented...and I am can imagine the soldier who never had Cuban food just loving it.

Thank you for cooking for our soldiers and for being such wonderful ambassadors of cultura and love.

[Ody Fabregas]

Excellent post Marta!!!! And an Excellent tribute to the men and woman that fought for us!!! I was touched seeing that you were all together as a family. What wonderful memories, surrounded by your heritage (Cuban people, Cuban food, Cuban music), to carry on in memories for years to come. Thank you for sharing your amazing weekend with us.

Un besote!!!!
Ody

[Queseto]

Great event!!

(love the "pantanos" lol!!)

[Maray]

I first read your blog on guavabites and fell in love with your blog. Btw, price went up to $1.49!

I was aware of this project b/c I am Joey Lay's adopted cousin from Miami (he has several real ones in Miami, he won't notice one more). He and his family are very special people. I was truly touched with this blog and how you made us feel like we were there. You have a talent for writing. God Bless you all for what you did for these soldiers, and for making all Cubans proud to have you represent us. I pray you never forget this experience. Keep up the great work!

Dale!

[Annie]

One more thing... if you ever get the invitation to do something like this in fort bragg (Fayetteville, NC), you know you have supporters to help less than an hour away!

[Maria Amelia]

Martita, You are such a cool lady! I can smell the food through your photos. You and your family are all an inspiration to me!

[Migdalia - @MsLatina]

Wepa! I love it! I am sure you all made the troops feel as if they were home, como familia, just as you said. I also love that your family was there to experience it all. Its those momentos, those memories, that they cherish when they move away from home. Those examples that Mami gave them will sustain them throughout their life. Btw, love how Jonathan kept popping up in pics LOL

[Carolyn Gonzalez]

After hearing this beautiful story from you at BlogHer, I had to come read it as well. That is so wonderful!! xoxo

[Cooking team building]

Lovely information on team cubanaso. I appreciate with the information which is true to the best of my knowledge