Sanguibin

One of the things I love most about Thanksgiving is the food. Now, before you give me the “Duh, Val,” lemme ‘splain where Im coming from.
See, Thanksgiving in our home is really a testament to, as Gustavo Perez Firmat calls it, Life on the Hyphen. While Noche Buenas are our traditional cultural culinary inheritance – lechon asado, congris, yuca, casabe y platanitos – Thanksgivings are perhaps the truest proof of our Cuban-Americaness.
On the fourth Thursday of every November we have on our tables what we, as Cuban-Americans (or Americans of Cuban descent if you prefer), have in our daily lives: the best of both worlds.
Yeah, we celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey and stuffing and cranberri sauce and sweet potatoes. We enjoy gravy soaked mashed potatoes. We love the traditional meal, a lo americano. But what would a Cuban family gathering be without your Tia Nena’s flan? Or your Mom’s frijoles negros poured over a nice steaming pile of arroz blanco? Or a small piece of mojo laden yuca to soak that last piece of turkey breast in? Or your Tia Lulu’s frituritas de bacalao as appetizers? A couple pieces of turron de yema with your after dinner cafecito?
That right there is something to be thankful for on its own, dont you think? Not only are we lucky enough to live in the greatest country on Earth, but we’re lucky enough to still enjoy a little something from that other greatest country on Earth freely. We have the freedom to love both countries, we have the blessing of two beautiful cultures.
Tomorrow, when the family sits down to Thanksgiving dinner and we begin to give thanks to God for our family and friends and health and homes and prosperity, let’s not forget to thank America.
It is through her that God made turkey with stuffing and frijoles negros possible. Pumpkin pie and flan. Honeybaked ham and tostones. Sweet potatoes and boniatos. Chicken salad and ensalada de coditos…
Y pavos, con mojito.