Dedicated to my niece Monica, whom I love dearly. You asked
me for a chicken recipe...you got it!!
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
Cuba, 1947. Three brothers, Gabriel, Alfonso, and Emilio, arrive in the island.
These young Spanish comedians had a contract for 6 months at the local
television station in La Habana. Their show was such a success, and were so
loved by the Cuban people, they stayed 13 years...and who knows...they would
have stayed longer if it was not for Fidel Castro taking over the Island.
That was the "true story"...the rest was inspired by their insane
descendants!
But, let's go back in time!
Before Fidel Castro...ruined everything... for everyone.
These fun loving Spaniards, the Aragons, and their families soon
adapted to the warm climate, the friendly people, and the Cuban
culture...
They were a very large family, with an even larger appetite for good
food. The women loved to cook, and although they felt passionate
about Spanish food, they also loved the delicious Cuban gastronomy.
One day, Monica Aragon, had friends coming over for dinner. She knew
she wanted to serve chicken. After all...who doesn't like chicken?
But...she didn't know if to cook it with Spanish flavors...or Cuban.
She looked in her pantry. Hmmmm....she had potatoes, onions, garlic,
green pepper, bay leaves, celery, raisins, and Spanish olives. Could she
actually use all those ingredients? Nah, olives and raisins, didn't sound
too good. She decided to make baked chicken the Spanish way, Cuban
white rice, and plantains. Perfect! A little of both countries!
She took the chicken, sprinkled sat and pepper all over, and was about
to rub it with garlic, when she heard someone at the door. She went
to see who it was.When she opened the door, she said to herself,
Oh, not the milkman!, It's going to take forever, he tries to sell me
more than milk always...
Meantime, her Aunt Maribel, came into the kitchen through the back
door...
"Ay chica, I zee many ingredientz...it muzt be a stew. I will surprize
herr", and startz it fur herr!". She cut the chicken, added salt and
pepper, browned it in olive oil, and when she was ready to add the
garlic...she remembered she had a lunch date with,Ricky Ricardo, a
great conga player. She left in a hurry.
Monica, finally got away from the milk man, who tried also selling her
papayas, eggs, and a pig! She shut the door, the phone rang. It was
her mother. As she spoke to her, Mayte, her sister, came down the
stairs, said "Hola!", and headed to the kitchen. Monica covering the
phone with one hand, said in an alarmed tone, " Mom says dad is
acting like a clown and wants to join a circus!!! Mayte, please, add
the pepper, the onions, and the garlic, to the roasting pan and put
the chicken in the oven, please!! We got company tonight!" She
continued calming her mother....
Mayte, was looking at the browned chicken in the pan. Why did
her sister ask her to put in the over? Suddenly, her boyfriend, a
handsome Cuban boy, Andy Garcia, popped his head through the
kitchen's window, and said to Mayte. "Hola baby, You know...the day
is as beautiful as you...want to come with me to the beach?". She
responded giggling, "Yes, mi amor, give me a minute, and I will be
right out!"
Mayte had to rush! She put the onion, 1/2 the green pepper, and 2 cloves
of garlic in the blender for a few seconds, poured the mix in the pan,
By the time Monica finished talking to her mom, she had a headache.
She remembered she was out of aspirin, so she went to her next door
neighbor, Maria, to see if she had any. Maria, who was the neighborhood
gossiper, insisted she come in for "a moment". Meanwhile, her
Aunt Cary, who was going through a break up, and had been drinking
many ...many ...Mojitos, dropped by for a visit....
The front door was open. Cary, walking in zig zag, entered the
living room, laughed ....then, called out at the top of her lungs,
"Moni...ca...hic...Moni...hic...caaaaaaaaa! Werrr, ar..hic...uuuuuu?
hmmmm...hic...plobba...hic...bly in der kit..hic..chennnn", and she
stumbled into the empty kitchen. She saw the pan, and said...
"Que es esto? Chic..hic..ken? Poor...hic...lonely...hic..zing! She
added to the pan, everything in sight! The olives, raisins, celery,
carrots, went in the pan!
She saw spices in little jars. " Now,my little chick..hic...ennn, you willll,
you willll...beee delectalabable!" and she added oregano, cumin, and
a couple of bay leaves. Dizzy..she sat on a chair and fell asleep with her
head tilted back, her arms dangling, and her legs opened wide.
Monica, who returned home with an even worse headache, from
Maria's gossiping, went directly to the kitchen for a glass of water to
take her hard earned aspirins....She opened the door, screamed and
nearly fainted at the sight of her Aunt. Cary, opened her big, blue
eyes, and said with a creepy smile, "Moni..hic..caaaaaa!". She fell
asleep again.
Monica dragged an open legged Aunt Cary, as she could, toward the
living room. There was a knock at the door. Out of breath she said,
"Whhh....hoo is it?". A voice replied, "Your cousin Mayra!". Monica, asked
her to come in..."Help! Help me with Aunt Cary, let's take her upstairs,
please! Mayra agreed. One grabbed her legs, the other, the hands,
and slowly, clumsily, dragged her upstairs. Getting Cary in bed, was
no easy chore either...Monica, called Cary's sister, Juani, to come
pick her up.
Meantime...cousin Ana, came in the house. She smelled the aroma
coming from the kitchen. Food was her passion....immediately, she
forgot what she was there for. Straight to the kitchen she went!
Ana, saw the pan with the chicken on the stove, and thought...
Well, that chicken looks dry!! Something is missing. Aaahhh, no color!
She added 1/2 a cup of tomato sauce, a good splash of white wine,
and about 3/4 cup water. Ana, brought everything to a boil... waited
a couple of minutes, then... lowered the heat, so it would slowly simmer.
The back kitchen door opened once more. Nela, Monica's sister, had
brought some orange juice Monica asked her for earlier that day.
They both said "Hola! Cousin!" and hugged.
Wondering where Monica was, they went on her search, finding
her upstairs with Mayra, and an opened legged Aunt Cary on the bed.
Monica proceded to tell them what had happened.
Downstairs...Aunt Juani, came in to see what was going on with
her sister. She called out, "Girls, I am here". From upstairs, Ana replied,
"Aunt Juani, check that chicken in the kitchen, before you come up,
please!" Juani, did just that. But, she thought it needed something
else...so, she added a couple of potatoes cut in chunks. Stews should
have potatoes! Looking good, she thought, and went upstairs. Monica
asked, "Is the chicken baked? Is it looking good?"
"Baked chicken?". They all cried out, even Cary...hic.
Monica, wanted to add a touch of her own...green peas.
The chicken with white, and fried plantains was a success
that evening!
