CUBANOS!

Recently, I watched a movie titled "Chef."  I felt like I was watching a film documenting my heart's desire for food!  Without giving away too much of the movie...for those that have not seen it, it's basically about a talented chef that quits his job and gets his own food truck.  He starts cooking Cuban sandwiches aka "Cubanos" with the inspiration from his ex-wife's Cuban roots!  A Cubano traditionally has ham, turkey, mustard, cheese, a pickle, and is toasted on a Panini press!  Today, I will serve them with Puerto Rican beans!  Growing up, I had a Puerto Rican best friend and his Grandpa made the best beans ever!  I am sworn to secrecy...so I can't give you the recipe the way I was taught, but like everything that I have ever eaten and tried to cook...I added my own twist to it and that's what I'll share with you today!  WARNING...THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE FOOD TRUCK SANDWICH!!!!! The layers of flavor are designed to make your mouth explode!!!!!  My goal was to create several layers of flavor.  With the turkey you get a Latin flavor from the taco and menudo mix, a lil spicy heat, and with the pork I wanted that savory sweet taste to balance some of the heat.  Then, two types of cheese...pepper jack and mozzarella for a spicy gooeyness that melts with the tangy pickle as you bite into it!!  I hope you are ready for this!

TURKEY
Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees.  In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 a pack of menudo mix, 1 pack of onion soup mix, 1/4 cup of Adobo seasonings(or you could use 1 pack of taco seasoning mix), and 1/2 cup of olive oil.  Rub the mix on the turkey(under turkey skin too), bake in pan with 2 cups of water, cover with foil, and bake for 45-55 min.

PORK
Traditionally, you would use ham!  I decided to use pork shoulder because it's fattiness helps absorb the marinade.  Score the fatty part of the pork and place it in a cooking pan with 2 cups of water.  In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of teriyaki sauce or you may use soy sauce(I prefer teriyaki), add the juice from 1 can of pineapple rings, and 1/2 cup of brown sugar.  Pour/rub the mixture all over the pork and then top with the pineapple rings.  Cover with foil and bake for approximately 3 hours.  After the 3 hours, take off the foil and bake an additional 30 mins until golden brown(or until the pork falls apart with a fork).  Meat should separate from the bone with ease.  Let cool and shred!

You can make 4 sandwiches out of 1 French baguette roll.  Slice the roll in half, spread mustard on one side and mayo on other.  Layer with 1 slice of pepper jack cheese and 1 slice of mozzarella(you can use any type of bread or roll you like as well as any cheese)!  If you have a panini press, now's the time to heat it up.  After you have spread the condiments and layered the cheese...add the pickle, shredded turkey and shredded pork.  Press the sandwich until the cheese has melted...slice and serve!!!  *If you do not have a panini press, you could use a skillet...just butter the top and bottom of the bread before building the sandwiches, place in a pan, and use a second pan to press down the sandwich.

PUERTO RICAN BEANS
In a sauce pan, add 2 large can of pinto beans, 1 large ham steak, and 2 potatoes diced into small pieces.  Cover with water, add 1 can of El Pato sauce, 1 can of tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of ground cumin, and 1 tablespoon salt.  Bring it to a boil and then simmer on low until the potatoes are soft.  Approximately 30 minutes.

Bon Appetit!!

.