It’s the Little Things from Marta’s Cuban American Kitchen
If you’re Cuban, you know that we love to refer to things diminutively.
For example, we don’t just have café. We have a cafécito.
And to my big, fat Cuban family and friends, I’m not always Marta, I’m Martica. Which is totally fine by me. The diminutive form of the word makes people and things friendlier and, I don’t know… cuter, somehow. =D
So today I pulled out my trusty crockpot to make some baby-back ribs, or costillas, or in true Cuban form, costillitas.
That way, you can eat a dozen and it’s no big thing. 
Martica's Costillitas de Puerco
3 – 4 lbs. Baby back pork ribs, split into individual ribs
8 oz. chicken broth
8 oz. dark beer (I like Newcastle Brown Ale)
1 Tbsp. Olive oil
2 Tbsp. Honey
2 tsp. Oregano
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup ketchup
5 garlic cloves – minced
2 tsp. Smoked paprika (or pimenton)
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1) In a large skillet, quickly brown ribs in olive oil over medium high heat.
2) Place browned ribs in 5 quart crockpot.
3) In a medium size bowl, mix all the other ingredients together.
3) Pour into a saucepan and bring just to a boil.
4) Pour this sauce over ribs.
5) Cook on high for 4-5 hours. Or on low for 6-8 hours. NOTE: You can also cook in a pressure cooker for about 25 minutes.
6) When the ribs are cooked, remove to a serving platter and keep warm.
7) Skim the fat off of the liquid and pour into a saucepan. 
Bring to boil over medium-high heat.
9) Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is reduced.
10) Spoon the sauce over the ribs.
And speaking of Cuban families and food, here's a little thing I wanted to share with you, my Babalú family - look who is enjoying my cookbook:
Yes, that’s Desi Arnaz, Jr. (be still my foolish heart... *sigh*)
I know. Shut up!
I feel so accidentally cool.
You can order your own copy of My Big, Fat Cuban Family Cookbook by clicking the link below:
Finger licking good. And, if you toss in just a little bit of guayaba into that sauce,hoooboy.
marta, why don't you sell it on amazon?
I'm drooling all over the keyboard!
ORGULLOSA,
Over the ribs or over Desi?
BOTH!
Looks fantastic!
What did Desi,Sr think of castro? I know he fled to the US because of Batista. I've never read or seen any interview where he talked of castro.
What if Lucy had married castro instead of Desi? I Shoot Lucy? "Lucy, you can't come down to La Cabana no more and try to get in on che's act!"
I read where I LOVE LUCY was banned in Cuba? I would have thought Lucille Ball being accused of being a communita would have made it mandatory viewing in Cuba.