Cuban Cooks Overcome Shortages with Ingenuity on Facebook
2021-04-19
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1Cooking can be tricky when you can not find the ingredients you normally use to make a meal.
2Many people face that very problem in Cuba, where the COVID-19 crisis has worsened food shortages in the country.
3But now, they can find help just a computer link away on the Facebook page "Recipes from the Heart."
4Cuban Yuliet Colón is one of the page creators.
5Colón guides Cubans on how to use the foods available to them to make the meals they love.
6She can help users make a sweet treat with the eggs they happen to find, or replace the pork called for in a recipe with whatever meat is at the market.
7She even knows how to substitute beans in Cuban rice dishes with peanuts.
8Recipes from the Heart shares information on how Cubans can cook the foods they are likely to find at the market or through a government program.
9"I love Master Chef Spain, but where do I get liquid nitrogen in this country?" joked Colón.
10Liquid nitrogen is used to make special ice cream on the Master Chef Spain television show.
11Colón is a 39-year-old mother of two.
12She and other cooks launched the Facebook page in June.
13It now has more than 12,000 members, many of them in Cuba.
14Cubans are just starting to use social media due to improved internet speeds.
15COVID-19 stopped people from visiting Cuba, which badly damaged the economy.
16Former President Donald Trump also increased sanctions on the country.
17Now, there are food shortages.
18The gross domestic product decreased by 11 percent in 2020.
19Long lines became normal last year.
20The year 2021 opened with government economic reforms that effectively raised both prices and pay, but not at the same rate.
21Colón last week visited a food store and stood in line for 40 minutes.
22She was finally able to buy a few vegetables.
23She used them to cook a food she called "Cuban-style pisto manchego."
24It is mostly made with vegetables.
25She received a lot of praise from her Facebook group.
26These days, things every Cuban needs come and go without warning.
27One day there is toothpaste, then it disappears. Another day there is soap.
28Different kinds of food appear and disappear as well.
29Sometimes potato disappears, prompting Cubans to turn to yucca, another root vegetable.
30Recipes from the Heart has become a home for ideas on how to cook chicken when it is the only meat in the store.
31"There are a lot of shortages", said Colón in the small kitchen of her house.
32She is preparing her "pisto manchego."
33She photographs her cooking and then uploads the images.
34She added a bit of fresh herbs she took from a relative's small garden.
35She likes to make tasty sweet things, but explains that it is hard to find the needed eggs and milk.
36The internet has led to an increase in food services including cooking and transporting meals.
37Cubans can share information on WhatsApp or Twitter about what stores have food or other goods.
38Such social media sites are also influencing government officials to be accountable.
39For example, a government factory recently provided a frozen food that sometimes exploded during cooking.
40Many cooks protested about the problem online.
41So the government was forced to provide answers to the Cuban press.
42Colón also uses the internet to talk to her mother, who helps pay for its cost.
43And, she often adds a few family stories to her recipe posts.
44"The kitchen is my happy place," she said.
45I'm Susan Shand.
1Cooking can be tricky when you can not find the ingredients you normally use to make a meal. Many people face that very problem in Cuba, where the COVID-19 crisis has worsened food shortages in the country. 2But now, they can find help just a computer link away on the Facebook page "Recipes from the Heart." Cuban Yuliet Colón is one of the page creators. 3Colón guides Cubans on how to use the foods available to them to make the meals they love. She can help users make a sweet treat with the eggs they happen to find, or replace the pork called for in a recipe with whatever meat is at the market. She even knows how to substitute beans in Cuban rice dishes with peanuts. 4Recipes from the Heart shares information on how Cubans can cook the foods they are likely to find at the market or through a government program. 5"I love Master Chef Spain, but where do I get liquid nitrogen in this country?" joked Colón. Liquid nitrogen is used to make special ice cream on the Master Chef Spain television show. 6Colón is a 39-year-old mother of two. She and other cooks launched the Facebook page in June. It now has more than 12,000 members, many of them in Cuba. Cubans are just starting to use social media due to improved internet speeds. 7COVID-19 stopped people from visiting Cuba, which badly damaged the economy. Former President Donald Trump also increased sanctions on the country. Now, there are food shortages. The gross domestic product decreased by 11 percent in 2020. 8Long lines became normal last year. The year 2021 opened with government economic reforms that effectively raised both prices and pay, but not at the same rate. 9Colón last week visited a food store and stood in line for 40 minutes. She was finally able to buy a few vegetables. 10She used them to cook a food she called "Cuban-style pisto manchego." It is mostly made with vegetables. She received a lot of praise from her Facebook group. 11These days, things every Cuban needs come and go without warning. One day there is toothpaste, then it disappears. Another day there is soap. 12Different kinds of food appear and disappear as well. 13Sometimes potato disappears, prompting Cubans to turn to yucca, another root vegetable. 14Recipes from the Heart has become a home for ideas on how to cook chicken when it is the only meat in the store. 15"There are a lot of shortages", said Colón in the small kitchen of her house. She is preparing her "pisto manchego." She photographs her cooking and then uploads the images. 16She added a bit of fresh herbs she took from a relative's small garden. 17She likes to make tasty sweet things, but explains that it is hard to find the needed eggs and milk. 18The internet has led to an increase in food services including cooking and transporting meals. Cubans can share information on WhatsApp or Twitter about what stores have food or other goods. 19Such social media sites are also influencing government officials to be accountable. For example, a government factory recently provided a frozen food that sometimes exploded during cooking. Many cooks protested about the problem online. So the government was forced to provide answers to the Cuban press. 20Colón also uses the internet to talk to her mother, who helps pay for its cost. And, she often adds a few family stories to her recipe posts. 21"The kitchen is my happy place," she said. 22I'm Susan Shand. 23The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 24______________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26ingredients - n. one of the things that are used to make a food, 27sanctions - n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country 28gross domestic product - n. the amount of a country's entire earnings 29herb - n. a plant or a part of a plant that is used as medicine or to give flavor to food 30kitchen - n. a room in which food is cooked 31We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.