Book excerpt: "From Camarones al Ajillo to Ropa Vieja, author Martha Abreau Cortina celebrates the best of Cuban cooking . . . This collection invites home cooks of all abilities to indulge in the flavorful pleasures of the traditional Cuban meal." -ForeWord This Week "If you have always wanted a good Cuban cookbook, this is it." -St. Petersburg Times "You might call Martha Abreu Cortina's new cookbook "The Greatest Hits of Cuban Cuisine." Open any page of Authentic Cuban Cuisine and you'll find a recipe that anyone who cooks Cuban shouldn't be without."-South Florida Sun-Sentinel Combining the influences of Spain, Africa, and the Caribbean, Cuban cuisine is as much about family as it is about flavor. This traditional collection of Cuban recipes includes a range of favorite dishes--more than 160 in all--to provide a culinary tour of the classic Cuban foods from starters and salads to mains, meats, and desserts. Created for home cooks by a home cook, the recipes include step-by-step instructions to preparing and presenting such dishes as arroz con pollo (chicken with rice), ropa vieja (shredded beef), poliche (pot roast), flan, and fried sweet ripe plantains. Each recipe is titled in both Spanish and English, and a bilingual index allows for easy reference when searching for preferred dishes. From black beans and ham croquettes to roast pork shoulder with mojo and sweet potato pudding, each entry offers an authentically Cuban gastronomic experience.