I've been blogging since 2006. In that space of time and all across the internet, I've made some really wonderful friends.
One of those is the lovely don't-hate-me-because-I'm-beautiful Ana Quincoces. Recently seen on Real Housewives of Miami - she was the smart and classy one - Ana is a talented chef and quite the delightful personality. If you're curious as to how we met (and also want a killer, stuffed, Cuban French toast recipe) read that story right here.
Ana Quincoces is one of the most genuine people I've ever met and I feel privileged to call her my friend. In June when the Miami Heat won the championship and my daughter, Amy was also in Miami, I made sure she and Ana found each other at Versailles some time around midnight. (Just call me Mission Control.)
Ana has recently developed a new all-purpose marinade called Skinny Latina Million Dollar Marinade.
Last week, this package of awesomeness arrived.
You know how much I love shortcuts when I cook. This marinade is the perfect beginning to any sauce. Ana calls it, "Cooking for dummies in a bottle. Move over, mojo!"
To help celebrate the launch of Ana's fabulous Skinny Latina Million Dollar Marinade, I'd like to offer one lucky MBFCF reader a case (six 12 oz. bottles) of this amazing stuff. It's low calorie, glutten-free, and delicious. Win!
On her site, Ana has recipes for 8 different sauces using her MDM as a base. Find those recipes right here.
To enter this drawing for A Case of Skinny Latina Million Dollar Marinade, please leave a comment on this post and answer the following:
~ Tell me your favorite go-to recipe that's in heavy rotation at your house.
Please leave your comment on this post and I'll choose one winner on Wednesday, November 20th, 2013 at 8 pm PST.
Also, I feel like I have to add this disclaimer for the benefit of all my readers:
You don't have to be Cuban to enter any of my giveaways. That is all.
HOLA! My go to recipe that is in heavy rotation in my casa is Roasted Pork, Frijoles negros and platanitos. Mami makes a HUGE batch of Frijoles negros when I visit her and she puts them in containers for me. I then freeze them and have them whenever we crave them. When I run out, it's time to take another trip to Miami. We live in Tampa. I absoluetly love your blog, it's a little taste of home. Gracias!
Posted by: Nancy Gonzalez | November 18, 2013 at 12:20 PM
please please please, we have nothing Cuban in Tallahassee, would love to taste it.
Posted by: Maria | November 18, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Hi! This looka awesome. My favorite go to recipe are my husbands enchiladas. I'm Cuban and he's Mexican. Thanks.
Posted by: annette casas | November 18, 2013 at 12:41 PM
I am Chinese-Cuban, my hubby is Irish-American and my daughter is a delightful mix of the two of us. Our go to meal is chicken anything, roasted, breaded, etc., but we're getting very bored and need a new way of giving chicken a new flavor. In a pinch, my mom makes the best frijoles negros and always makes extra for us...then we have the best comfort food ever...frijoles negros con arroz y huevos fritos y Materva!!!!
Posted by: Vivian Beechinor | November 18, 2013 at 12:42 PM
Hola, Being in a Cuban house hold your recipes are all in rotation here HONESTLY. Me and mi abuelita love them all but when it comes to la hora de la comida we have your Ropa Vieja every week on our 'Abuela and Me cooking time'! There's nothing more delicious for us than that meaty-veggie Cuban dish. Also I'm so glad I have mastered my flan skills thanks to your recipe so easy to do and to take to any party/gathering a Latin favorite.
I love Ana Quincoces, living here in Miami I have wished to meet her and of course the rest of the cast of RHOM ( Alexia Echaverria, Marysol Patton) hopefully some day.
Muchas Gracias,
Andres y Andrea Hernandez :)
Posted by: Andres Aquino Hernandez | November 18, 2013 at 12:48 PM
This product looks great. I love the label... Can't wait to try on ropa vieja or over fried yuca... The thought Of it makes My stomach quiver!!!
Posted by: Karina | November 18, 2013 at 12:49 PM
My daughter in law is from Louisville, KY and loves Cuban cuisine. We all live in Louisville, where is rare to find the goodies you can find in Miami..."Abre que voy, dame el mojo!"
Posted by: Berta | November 18, 2013 at 12:52 PM
My go to one is picadillo. The kids love it and my American husband can't be without it. I make it once a week. Give it a different twist, I put it on top of the hot dogs for the kids on inside the hamburger buns. Skinny Latina would go great with my picadillo.
I love Ana in the housewives of Miami. She was real.
Muchas gracias,
Martha Amidano
Posted by: Martha | November 18, 2013 at 12:53 PM
I want some Cuban awesomeness in NC
Posted by: Janet NC | November 18, 2013 at 12:59 PM
Fricase de pollo seems to be the most requested lately :)
Posted by: Mercy | November 18, 2013 at 01:04 PM
My must have recipe in rotation at home specially when the grandkids come over, that's must of the weekends, we have nine of them, is Pollo Juanito, it is a chicken dish made up by my cousin's Tata in Cuba because he would not eat anything else, so she invented it and because we loved it we still make it after 55 years...Thank you Tata...I bet if we substitute the regular mojo that we marinate the chiken with with this delicious looking Million Dollar Marinade it would become another fabulous tradition... thank you for the opportunity and love and blessings to all
Posted by: Clara D Cuadrado | November 18, 2013 at 01:06 PM
I would love to give this to my Mom who is from Cuba!
Posted by: [email protected] | November 18, 2013 at 01:15 PM
I would like to say that I was born in Miami moved to Chicago ( where there weren't many Cuban seasoning a lot more Mecican and Puerto Rican ) and then moved back down to Miami not too long ago with my kids. I can say that mi mami taught me how to cook all sorts of Cuban food but I also learned with Carmencita from Que Pasa USA ... LOL Anyhow, I have cooked with food network chef Robert Irvine from Restsurant Imposdible, with Iron Chef Michael Symon, with Food Network Chef Curtis Stone so I absolutely love to cook but have always wanted to show my family a different and great seasoning for our favorite recipe of carne con papas. They all love it at home ( including myself ) and would be wonderful to give it a little kick. De verdad que luce rico!!!
Posted by: Gloria | November 18, 2013 at 01:16 PM
Am I the only man who cooks around here?! I must say, it would take one heck of an invention to get me to move my mojo over, so try me! I've always got a lechon marinating in the fridge for an easy crock-pot drop! Thanks for letting me stop by!
Posted by: John Cádiz Klemack | November 18, 2013 at 01:20 PM
We are a Cuban Italian household so around here the go-to recipes are pasta and red sauce with italian sausage or Carne con Papa!
Posted by: Charityn | November 18, 2013 at 01:25 PM
My go to is ' picadillo a la rapida' with sundried tomatoes. Brown the meat, add chopped purple onions and sazon completa. Mash with a fork throughout on med-high heat. As the groundbeef lets all the fat out, add tomato paste and a good bunch of sundries tomatoes in oil(drain the oil!). My people prefer it without bell pepper, so add it if you like. Keep stirring and separating the meat until it is all cooked, lower heat and cover.
Zap some Uncle Ben's white rice, open a bag of mariquotas and 'Ya esta la comida!'
God bless:)
Posted by: Carmen Villafañe | November 18, 2013 at 01:25 PM
Easiest 'go-to' recipe: A version of Chicken Pot Pie that calls for a can of Progresso chicken & wild rice soup, two Pillsbury Butter Tastin' Biscuits, and a slice of your favorite cheese. Scoop the soup evenly into two ramekins; put a folded slice of cheese on top, then a biscuit on top of that. (The cheese keeps it from sinking & adds cheesey goodness). Bake in the oven according to temp & time suggested for biscuits (I forget!). Enjoy!
Posted by: [email protected] | November 18, 2013 at 01:32 PM
My flan is a "must" at all my family get togethers. Everyone thinks it's so difficult but it's NOT! Una lata de leche condensada, una lata de leche evaporada, 5 huevos, un poco de vainilla y una pizca de sal. My cake de guayaba is also a big hit!
Posted by: Martha | November 18, 2013 at 01:32 PM
HOLA!!!! My go to recipe in my house when we need to eat and it has to be quick is Arroz con Salchichas Rebecca Style !!! It is full of yumminess (Salchichas, maiz, chorizo, garbanzo beans and tiny cubed Spam) I serve it with platanitos maduros and a french green beans (from a can) and onion salad. Y si hay aguacate tambien!!!!
Posted by: Rebecca Garcia | November 18, 2013 at 01:49 PM
Nothing Cuban in Lutz, Florida.. I'm dying to taste this mouthwatering
Marinade.. Being Cuban and not having much Cuban around me
(I'm a transplant from NJ), this would be absolutely wonderful..
Posted by: Michelle Martinez Sacca | November 18, 2013 at 01:54 PM
Move over mojo
Posted by: andrea (arrieta) wagner | November 18, 2013 at 02:02 PM
First, I must say that your Flan Cake is the absolute best! That is my go to dessert, always a favorite. My go to dinner is whatever fresh veggies are on hand with some pasta and season it up! I have been trying various Cuban recipes on my family, and so far so good. Their favorite are my Cuban meatballs! I love your website!
Posted by: Beth Waters | November 18, 2013 at 02:06 PM
Wheee! Move over, mojo! I'm ready for a new taste! =)
Posted by: Denell | November 18, 2013 at 02:09 PM
I am a "skinny" latina, but want to have my son and his American wife try it in DC.
Posted by: Rosie | November 18, 2013 at 02:09 PM
I'm always ready to try something new. This marinade looks like it would work really well with pork or chicken! Our go to recipe is picadillo, arroz, y frijoles negros and of course platanitos maduros. if there's any picadillo left over I make quick nachos the next day or little empanadas using Pillsbury biscuit dough.
Posted by: Neldy Arocha | November 18, 2013 at 02:59 PM
would love to try the product.......always reading your blog anf FB page.....
Posted by: ivonne | November 18, 2013 at 03:35 PM
My favorite go to recipe is picadillo. Sometimes with olives and raisins, sometimes just olives, sometimes just raisin, sometimes just a splash of olive juice. To me, each version is different so it feels like I'm never eating the same thing twice. ;)
Posted by: Barbara Carbajo | November 18, 2013 at 03:42 PM
Ayyyy Marticaaa I would really reallyyyyy love to try this Mojoooo 😎
Posted by: Isabel | November 18, 2013 at 03:54 PM
Lo quero! My go to is pernil con habechuelas colorado y platanos maduro! Please pick me!!
Posted by: [email protected] | November 18, 2013 at 04:13 PM
Hola ! I love your block you are the best but I never , get any answer from you on the recepit , I will love to taste the new Latina Flaca in my Piccadilly with pieces of Madura in side the licadillo I hope I be the lucky one. I miss Ana Quinones on the house wife of Miami I don't know why she left love you my Cubans girl!!!!!
Posted by: [email protected] | November 18, 2013 at 04:41 PM
Hola! I have to say that my favorite recipe to make and that my husband and kids love is my Ropa Vieja. They like to help me cut up the garlic and peppers and also pull apart the pork after it has turned soft. Then to stir it in with the rest of the marinated ingredients and eat it with a side of white rice. Buen Provecho :)
Posted by: Kayla Rodriguez | November 18, 2013 at 04:54 PM
Ropa vieja when my father makes it. That mojo sounds like a great touch
Posted by: ileana jardines | November 18, 2013 at 05:47 PM
Well, my go to in the kitchen is my sweet husband! He does most of the cooking nowadays. I'd love to try this new item! Thank you for the chance.
Posted by: Pandora Richards Pensiero | November 18, 2013 at 05:48 PM
My favorite-
1 lb ground beef
1/3 cup each of maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce
3-4 cups of sliced leeks
Saute all together for an hour. Serve over rice seasoned with garlic, and lime. Yum!
Posted by: Jana @ 333 Days of Hand Lettering | November 18, 2013 at 05:50 PM
Most in-rotation recipe at my house? Picadillo, of course! So simple, everyone loves it and leftovers ALWAYS mean empanadas. :)
Posted by: Annie | November 18, 2013 at 05:50 PM
Hola! I'm Cuban and my Husband is Irish-American and all he eats is Cuban food. I tend to cook Carne con Pappas, with frijoles negros and arroz, on a weekly basis. During the months of November and December, we have to have Guava and Cheese every week :). I would love to try Ana's knew marinada!
Posted by: Marta V. | November 18, 2013 at 05:56 PM
This looks perfect for the busy Cuban/American chicas! With everyone being so busy all the time this product would be a life saver to keep our traditional taste alive! AZUCAR!
Posted by: Mayra Fernandez | November 18, 2013 at 06:01 PM
Hey married to a gringo and he loves my mini cuban fritas sliders actually so do a lot of folks made about 200 for my nieces daughters christening and I swear it was not enough.
Posted by: Mayra | November 18, 2013 at 06:12 PM
I have two dishes that I cook at least four to five times a month: The ropa vieja in the crockpot and the picadillo. They are fan favorites!
Posted by: Ileana Rodriguez Allan | November 18, 2013 at 06:27 PM
I forgot to mention that my husband says I cook the best fricase de pollo and would love make this mojo the new addition to my delish fricase...yum yum 😎
Posted by: Isabel | November 18, 2013 at 07:39 PM
My favorite recipe is Bistec (Cuban Steak)!
Posted by: Talia Gonzalez | November 18, 2013 at 07:42 PM
I really appreciate young people like you carrying on our traditions.I am buying your book for my daughter and my daughter in law for Christmas.And e are going over to the "cold"to meet our new nieto and our son who is in the navy.Taking them some of this spectacular MOJO Would be a blessing and much appreciated.I rotate a lot of dishes and make up a lot of recipes(always have a mojo,vino seco,and naranja agria at home).If I only have a couple of bistes and my son comes in,I cut them in strips and soak in mojo,cut potatoes in small squares and saute.Then slice plenty of onions ,throw them in,cover and cook until potatoes are ready.Muchas gracias por su inspiracion y por compartirla con los demas.Abrazos y Feliz Navidad.God Bless...( y la virgencita de la Caridad too)
Posted by: Gladys Y Pensado Gomez | November 18, 2013 at 07:43 PM
At my house recipes are limited to what I know how to cook....I lost my Cuban mom when I was 11so I lost out on growing up with a Cuban short order cook....THen I married a man and inherited a cooking suegra ...SHe has been cooking for both her sons families for over 30 years....Every night!.....However I do know how to make albondigas and tortilla de platano....My kids like them and I can whip them up in a jiffy...really need to make an effort and learn a few more recipes but I was spoiled ...What caN I SAY?
Posted by: Iliana Artime | November 18, 2013 at 07:45 PM
I would love this! I love your blog!
Posted by: Candice Gonzalez | November 18, 2013 at 08:53 PM
In our house, our go to dish is usually a pasta dish or something made with lots of garlic and oil.
Posted by: Carmela C | November 18, 2013 at 09:26 PM
For me it's grilled chicken. I make it at least once a week because grilling in CA is a year-round activity. I'd love to try that marinade to spice up the middle of the week!
Posted by: Haylee Shalaby | November 18, 2013 at 09:55 PM
Our heavy rotation dish is Arroz con Pollo (Chicken and Rice, and a close second is my Cuban Grandmother's Picadillo. Thanks, Marta! Love to you from a Cuban-Chinese, Irish-American household!
Posted by: Lourdes S. | November 19, 2013 at 05:55 AM
The dish that is in heavy rotation at my house is "frijoles colorados." I loveeee them ever since I was a little boy. I make them at least two times a month. My mom taught me how to make them when I moved out of their house to live on my own. Also and of course "white rice." I think that is a heavy rotation dish in ANY Cuban home.
Posted by: Faustino | November 19, 2013 at 06:01 AM
My favorite go-to recipe is black beans, white rice and tostones. I was really excited to find the frozen tostones since good plantains are hard to find here in Birmingham. I'd love to try the Skinny Latina marinade. Thanks, Marta!
Posted by: Natalie | November 19, 2013 at 06:50 AM
I'm not a great cook. but i can always make arroz con pollo (a la chorrera)
w maduros and salad
I need this bottle of Cubanness .
Besides the one i am going to win, where can i order a couple more for
Christmas gifts
love ya!
Posted by: [email protected] | November 19, 2013 at 07:55 AM