Cuban Crackers

[Blackford Oakes]

Growing up 2500 miles from Miami, Cuban Crackers was the last thing that would have crossed my dinner table.

On those getting dark, mid week evenings, I'd call my folls advising I was up the street at either Ben Alonso's or Marai Cecilia's pad. Both were miami born cousins, and their family shared a duplex just over a block from us.

Both their mothers were widows, both still guided in bringing up their son's to the values of a pre-revolutionary Cuba. That's the way their husbands would have wanted it.

On more occasions, they'd spend more time at my house after school, but I also spend many an after school afternoon at their homes.

Those calls to home usually meant I'm not arriving for supper. It included my folks listen to a Celia Cruz in the background as it spun on vinyl.

My mother being Costa Rican, I was accostumed to the steak, rice and black beans. Seeing my buds butt their fork with the assistence of a Cuban Cracker was unchartered territory. One crunchy bit and I was hooked. Had my mother call their mother where to buy these things.

A true Cuban Cracker is meant to be light and airy. An air pocket was not to be frowned upon. In my opinion. a product superior to our culture's saltines.




During the process of my move to Florida, I thought I'd have mas quantities of these crackers at my disposal. I was dead wrong. Processors cut back and the product in general has suffered. It's become more condensed and heavy. Goya, which is brand I've had faith in, desicrated the staple. That goes for what's offered here in CFL or the Publix in Miami. An extinct delicacy I thought.

Yesterday afternoon, I happened to have a need to enter a bodega. Cuban Crackers weren't on the list, but looking beyond the package, hope was suggested.


In short, I've been reunited with the crackers of my youth. Such a distinct product, I'll dare to call Miamian..

If you're having similar disappiontments, This Vicky outfit in Hialeah is churning out legitimate stuff.

[dylan]

You put a little mantequilla on this bad boy and dip it in some cafe con leche... That is the best way to start the day. Or scooping some picadillo on these. YUM

[Blackford Oakes]

Or scooping some picadillo on these. YUM

If you know about picadillo, you can't get more Miamian than that.

I also found another treat at the bodega I really need help on. A breadfruit topic might be comming up.

[dylan]

Oh I am not into the bread fruit but what about Guayava that's the best.

[Doug]

I don't think I've ever had a Cuban cracker. I may have met a few, though...

[dylan]

Doug you have not lived til you've had these with butter dipped in cafe con leche. Or eat them alone with a bit of cream cheese on them that is what my abuela used to give me for a mid afternoon snack.

[Doug]

Now you tell me!

[Mario]

You can also put a piece of ham on the cracker and dip it in butter or cream cheese. You'll be in heaven.

[Matt Meltzer]

Do they make these with lard too?

[Blackford Oakes]

My favorite is to just wrap salami around the cracker and munch.

[dylan]

Well Matt I used to think I was bad with the way I dress up my Cuban crackers until, my friend who will remain nameless (a young lady) said "Dylan come over, and I will make us FRIED OREOS." The morbidly obese soul of mine could not resist at the thought of further torturing my circulatory system so I rushed over. That night we proceeded to kill a 12 pack of Guinness and a pack of Oreos that she fried. So now I am not so worried about cream cheese and ham. lol

[Matt Meltzer]

I've had fried oreos. They're delicious. But I have to stop at one.

[Blackford Oakes]

Yesterday, one cracker handled easily a can of bristlings.

It's moving up in rank. I'd say these two cuban crackers can take down one avocado. These things are as big as an elephant's ear.

[Ingrid]

If it's a Florida avocado, then yes, those crackers you're talking about must be huge!! Maybe baby elephant's ears, huh?

You would assume those are normal size crackers, so the fruit in the middle looks small in comparison. I thought it was a hass avocado at first. It's an optical illusion.

Is it from your backyard?

[Blackford Oakes]

If it's a Florida avocado, then yes, those crackers you're talking about must be huge!! Maybe baby elephant's ears, huh?

You would assume those are normal size crackers, so the fruit in the middle looks small in comparison. I thought it was a hass avocado at first. It's an optical illusion.

Is it from your backyard?

Wish I could, but I can't cultivate edibles.....not even my beloved heliconias beacuse of the deer. The only edible thing growing out back is a tree of panamanian chiles, but certain birds leave me no product, which I don't mind.

[dylan]

My old house growing up had 1 avocado, and 2 mango trees in the back yard. I then found out my dog at the time enjoyed avocados. He used to take then and sit on the dryer outside in the shade and peel the avocado with his teeth eat the whole thing and just leave the core. I used to get a kick out of watching him do that.

[Matt Meltzer]

So I'm a little confused. What kind of Avocado is that?

[Catt]

that's a Caribbean avocado - also called a 'pear' in Jamaica, Grenada, and Trinidad. They're bright green, much larger than the California ones we are familiar with, and the fruit is more soft and creamy, with a more buttery flavor - in fact, you can spread it just like butter on bread or crackers. imho these beat the smaller Cali ones by a country mile.

[Ingrid]

So I'm a little confused. What kind of Avocado is that?

Florida, or as Catt calls it, Caribbean avocado. You can tell by the black dots, but NOT by the cracker-avocado ratio in the picture! Florida avocados are big/huge and green, Hass avocados from California are small and black. Those are oil-based, and therefore creamier with a rich nutty taste, while Florida avocados are water-based. Both cultivars are good in their own particular ways I find.

Did you know that avocados have 35% more potassium than bananas?

And I thought for the longest time the banana was the queen of potassium. Isn't that what you hear them say everywhere?

[dylan]

That is new to me I never knew about the potassium contents in Avocados.