Ever since I can remember, our Thanksgiving has been a feast of American, Puerto Rican, and soul food must-haves. It’s a time to celebrate family, friends, food, food, and more food. In future blog posts, I may share some of my family’s favorite recipes and traditions that make our Thanksgiving special.

Growing up in a large family, Thanksgiving was always a big deal. This year, I will host the pasteles and alcapurrias assembly work line weekend with my sisters and cousins, just as our mothers and aunts did back in the day. Luckily, we have the makeshift “masa machine” that our aunt Carmen used, and we hope that, in spirit, she will bestow us with her gift. Because no one made pasteles like Titi Carmen, but we’ll give it our best.

We have the traditional turkey and mashed potatoes on the menu for Thanksgiving Day, but that is not the dish that holds the highest honor. It’s the pernil, so if the turkey is dry, no problem, cover it up with pernil. Now, if the pernil is dry and tasteless, don’t ever ask that person to make the pernil ever again. However, that hardly ever happens because we ensure that the pernil and the coquito are designated to the person known to make it best. 

With so much on the menu, we have to assign dishes, and the host (usually me) makes the turkey because, as I said, it doesn’t matter as much as the pernil, which is my sister's specialty and I’m not mad at that at all. We feel the same about mac and cheese, but because we have arroz con gandules and sometimes pastelón, that, too, isn’t as much of a crisis, but it will be talked about, so it is still important that it is made well and authentic (not boxed).

Besides the turkey, I am designated to make the coquito, rice, and flan. But it’s not just about the food. Thanksgiving is also a time to reflect on our blessings. In my family, we go around the table and share what we’re grateful for, and the little ones almost always have the greatest insight into what matters most. Although not originally a Puerto Rican holiday, being American, we appreciate the beautiful tradition that reminds us of all the blessings in our lives.

In conclusion, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s a great reason to come together to love and catch up with one another.

Here’s hoping you, too, have a Happy Sansgiving!