Florida’s Date of Statehood – March 3rd, 1845
I know what you are thinking. How can this be a FLORIDA meal if you are making Cuban sandwiches? Aren’t those from CUBA? Well, no. The Cuban Sandwich was actually invented in the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, FL! Per http://www.columbiarestaurant.com, “The “Mixto,” as it was known in the beginning, was created in the 1890s for the cigar workers as they walked to and from work. The sandwiches underwent changes as immigrants from different countries came to Ybor City. The City of Tampa was like the sandwich, a mixture of cultures and food. The Spanish brought the fine ham, the Sicilians the Genoa salami, the Cubans the mojo-marinated roast pork, the Germans and Jews the Swiss cheese, pickle and mustard.” So, there’s a little history to go with your delicious meal of Florida favorites!
Tips and Tricks
- To make a really good Cuban sandwich, you need really good bread. If you don’t have a Cuban or Latino bakery near you, a good French baguette will suffice.
- Publix is a Florida based grocery chain and they actually make a decent loaf of Cuban bread.
- If you have a panini press, then this sandwich is easy. If not, wrap a brick in aluminum foil. When you place the sandwich in the hot pan, place a heavy (cast iron works great) pan on top of the sandwich and press down. Place the brick in the pan and cook as the recipe states.
- Sour orange juice is often found in the Latino section of the grocery store with the other marinades. If you cannot find sour orange juice, then you can use ½ cup lime juice and ½ cup orange juice.
The Original Cuban Sandwich
Serves 2
Sandwich
- 2 8-inch Pieces of Cuban Bread, sliced in half lengthwise
- 1/4 lb. Thinly Sliced Smoke Ham
- 3 oz. Roasted Pork Loin, recipe below
- 1/8 lb. Thinly Sliced Genoa Salami
- 1/8 lb. Thinly Sliced Swiss Cheese
- 4 Dill Pickle Chips
- 2 Tbs Yellow Mustard
- 1 Tbs Butter, divided into two equal portions
Roast Pork
- Pork Shoulder Roast, 4-5 lbs.
- 1 Cup Sour Orange Juice
- 8 Large Garlic Cloves, peeled
- 2 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Grounds Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 4 Bay Leaves
Step 1: In a food processor, puree 1/4 cup of the sour orange juice, the 8 garlic cloves, 2 tsp oregano, salt, and pepper. Take the pork shoulder and puncture the pork with a sharp knife in several places. Place the pork in a large zip top bag and pour the pureed marinade over the meat. Massage the paste all over the roast and into the places that were punctured with the knife. Pour the remaining sour orange juice over the roast, add the bay leaves, and close the bag, being sure to remove as much air as possible. Set the meat aside in the refrigerator to marinate for 3-6 hours.
Step 2: After the meat as marinated, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Step 3: Remove the roast from the bag and place in a roasting pan, fat side up. Place the pan in a hot oven and roast until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. This usually means 20 minutes per lb., depending on the size of your pork shoulder,
Step 4: Once the pork reaches the correct temperature, remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before slicing and shredding.
Step 5: Make the sandwiches by opening up the bread. On each sandwich, place half of the smoked ham, a layer of roast pork, half on the salami, and half of the swiss cheese. Place 2 pickle chips on each sandwich. Spread half of the mustard on the top half of the bread for each sandwich and place the bread top back on each completed Cuban.
Step 6: Place a large skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add 1/2 Tbs of butter and swirl it around to coat the bottom on the skillet. Place the sandwiches in the pan, place a heavy skillet on top of the sandwiches, press down, and place an aluminum foil covered brick in the cast iron pan.
Step 7: Allow the bread to get brown and crispy, 3-4 minutes. Then, remove the sandwiches from the pan, add the other 1/2 Tbs of butter, swirl the melted butter around the pan to coat it, flip the sandwiches and place them back in the pan. Place a heavy skillet on top of the sandwiches, press down, and place an aluminum foil covered brick in the cast iron pan. Allow this side of the Cubans to cook for 3-4 minutes.
Step 8: Once both sides are crisp, remove the sandwiches from the pan, cut diagonally, and serve.
Florida Black Beans and Rice
Serves 4-6
- 1 lb. Dried Black Beans, soaked in cold water overnight and drained
- 6 Cups of Water
- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
- 1 Large White Onion, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 Green Pepper, stem and seeds removed and roughly chopped
- 3 Large Cloves of Garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Slices of Smoked Bacon, diced
- 1 Package Yellow Rice, prepared per package directions
Step 1: Place a large pot on medium heat. Once the pot is hot, add the olive oil. When the oil starts to shimmer, add the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Once the vegetables have softened, add the soaked and drained black beans, bay leaves, water, salt, pepper, and bacon. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours. If the beans become dry, add more water, as necessary.
Step 3: After 2 hours, remove the bay leaves and serve with prepared yellow rice.
Arugula and Florida Fruit Salad
Serves 4
- 1 Package Arugula, rinsed and drained
- 4 Large Strawberries, rinsed and sliced
- 1 Cup Blueberries, rinsed
- 1 Florida Orange, peeled and segmented
- 8 oz. Goat Cheese, crumbled
- 2 Tbs Olive Oil
- Juice of 1 Lemon
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Step 2: Divide the arugula, fruit and goat cheese evenly among 4 salad bowls.
Step 3: Serve cold with the lemon dressing on the side.
Fun Facts about Florida: 1. Florida has the most golf courses of any state in America. 2. There are no dinosaur fossils in Florida. That’s because, during the dinosaur age, the Florida peninsula was underwater; it was totally nonexistent as a land mass. 3. Everglades National Park– a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is the only place on the planet where crocodiles and alligators co-exist. 4. Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where it was first developed. 5. Flamingos get their pink color from the shrimp they eat. The more shrimp they eat the deeper pink they become. 6. No matter where you are in Florida you are never more than 60 miles from the Ocean. 7. Florida is the flattest state in the USA as it is the state with the smallest difference between its highest and lowest points, only 345 ft. 8. Benjamin Green, a Miami pharmacist, invented the first suntan lotion.
Edible U.S. 