Most people get excited for Thanksgiving break because of the food. But what do you usually like to eat? Turkey? Mashed potatoes? Stuffing? If you answered yes to all of those things, I respect the choices because I love all of them. But when it comes to a Thanksgiving meal, I can’t resist a nice Spanish feast.

I’m half Puerto Rican, and I desperately crave Spanish food often because of it. I can’t count on my hands how often I order Spanish food, but homemade is the way to go. There are so many dishes that I can think of that make Thanksgiving better for me that I don’t even know where to begin.

1. Pernil

This is, without a doubt, the first meal that comes to mind when I think of Spanish Thanksgiving. If you’ve ever had pulled pork, pernil is close to the same thing. However, when you eat pernil, your taste buds start to spasm from how heavenly it tastes. I’m not even sure what it’s usually seasoned with (because my Grandpa uses his own methods), but I can just say that I can’t stop myself from having seconds. This is essentially the “turkey” for a Spanish family’s Thanksgiving. Definitely a top-tier dish in my opinion.

2. Arroz con Gondules

Arroz con gondules is a common dish, or at least it should be. All it consists of is rice and beans. But again, there is a certain way of seasoning it that really enhances the taste. If I’ve learned anything about food from my mother, "adobo" makes everything taste like happiness. If you eat the rice and beans along with the pernil, expect nothing less than fireworks to go off in your mouth.

3. Tostones and Maduros

These are both common Spanish appetizers, and both made from plantains, but they're made differently. Tostones are made by flattening out slices of a plantain and frying them (I like to call them Spanish french fries). Tostones are usually pretty bland unless you add salt but still delicious nonetheless. Maduros are only slightly different. The plantains are sliced, boiled and then fried on a pan. Maduros get a much sweeter, juicier taste from this, and I can’t even begin to explain how much you’re going to want more once you eat one.

4. Emapanadas

If you don’t know what an empanada is, I feel sorry for you. There are all kinds of empanadas, but my favorite are the cheese and meat kind. If you get a chicken or beef empanada, you should consider yourself the luckiest person on the face of this Earth. Empanadas are also fried (damn, I’m only just realizing how many of these foods are fried), and they are filled with cheese or meat. The crunchiness adds a nice texture, and the filling is just a plus. You’ll never be satisfied by just one, so prepare yourself for ultimate empanada fatness.

I was drooling the whole time I wrote this, so you can imagine just how tasty these foods are. I won’t be having a Spanish Thanksgiving this year, but I am okay with that. “You can’t always get what you want,” as the Rolling Stones say. Whether it’s Thanksgiving or you’re just hungry though, I highly recommend you try every one of these foods if you haven’t already, because I guarantee they won’t disappoint.