Читать книгу The Healthy Teen Cookbook - Remmi Smith - Страница 20

CUBA

Moving east of Central America we travel over the Caribbean Sea to the Greater Antilles, a group of large islands, one of which is Cuba. Known officially as the Republic of Cuba, this island nation is located in the Caribbean Sea. Cuba is rich in Spanish history, as well as many cultural influences from Africa. Sugar is its largest crop. Havana is the capital of Cuba and has one of the finest natural harbors found anywhere. Dancing is very important to Cubans; the Bolero, Cha Cha, and Mambo originated there. The popular game of “Monopoly” is banned in the country, but the game of “Dominos” is a favorite pastime. Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world at 99.8 percent.

Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish and African influences. The cuisine is similar to that of Puerto Rico. I was looking for something different to try and fell in love with Picadillo. This dish reminds me of sloppy joes, and I think any teen will fall for this recipe. There are many versions of this dish. It is like a beef hash with a tomato base and some unusual ingredients like olives, capers, and raisins. I am not a caper lover, so you won’t find that in my recipe. I also decreased the amount of olives and raisins. Maybe I just wanted to make my sloppy joe recipe!