Every year Americans worry more about food on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year. For many it is not only important to create a table filled with all of the standard favorites, but doing it in a way that impresses the entire family, some of whom are quite difficult. Yet, we often overlook the drinks that complement those great foods, but the Thanksgiving Day drink menu does not have to stop with the dinner table. From a morning of parade watching to watching the many football games or getting cozy for a family movie, there are special drink choices that can keep the festive mood throughout the whole day.
Thanksgiving Morning and Parade Watching
It is a tradition for many families to wake up on Thanksgiving Day, enjoy a hearty breakfast together then sit down and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is the perfect opportunity to relax before a day packed with family and cooking and these drinks are perfect for that time before that rush begins.- Hot Drinks:
Start Thanksgiving Day off right with a warm drink that also have kid appeal... How to Make Great Hot Chocolate... Orange Ginger Hot Chocolate... List of Hot Chocolate Recipes - Morning Mocktails:
It is possible to go beyond milk and plain orange juice... Sweet Sunrise, Berry Sweetheart, Banana Carob Breakfast Smoothie - Brunch Cocktails:
A little brunch cocktail, anyone?... Bloody Mary, Mimosa
Thanksgiving Dinner
The Thanksgiving meal can be a challenge when it comes to pairing drinks with the wide variety of foods that ends up on the dinner table. The About.com Drink Guides have put together some excellent suggestions to help you show off your pairing skills.- Coffee and Tea:
Rich and malty Assam, A Keep-You-Going Spiced Turkish Coffee - Wine:
Thanksgiving Wine Pairings - Beer:
Make It Beer This Year! - Cocktails:
The Thanksgiving Cocktail, Pumpkin Cocktails, Cranberry Cocktails, Autumn Cocktails - For the Family:
Pilgrim's Punch, Sparkling Cranberry Punch, Cinderella - Specific Pairings:
Turkey, Baked Pears with Cranberries and Walnuts, Whiskey Pairings
Dessert and After the Big Meal
We all have a tendency to overindulge during Thanksgiving Day dinner, it's hard not to when there is so much delicious food in front of you. These drinks are great during dessert or after to help you recover from the big meal. These are also ideal for that time later in the evening when you sit down to watch a favorite family movie or bring out the board games.- Coffee and Tea:
New Orleans Cafe Noir, Masala Chai ("Chai Tea"), Puer (also spelled pu-erh or pu’er, it is an earthy, dark tea that many compare to coffee or dark chocolate) - For the Family:
Hot Spiced Cider, Hot Not Toddy, Root Beer Float - Adults Only:
Top 10 Dessert and Ice Wines, Dessert Cocktails - Specific Pairings:
Pumpkin Pie
Game Time
Beyond the meal, Thanksgiving is also known as a day for football and you know what that means...Beer! Yet, we can go beyond the every day beer for such a special occasion and pick out something nice and unusual. Browse through the selection of specialty beers at the store and look for any seasonal beers, which have great flavors that are perfect for this time of year. To get you started, check out the Top 10 Beers for Autumn and 10 Winter and Holiday Beer Recommendations.
As an alternative, there’s nothing like old-fashioned drip coffee to get your energy levels up! If you’re looking for something a little more refined, Lindsey Goodwin suggests French press coffee or Lapsang Souchong, perhaps the smokiest, most macho tea out there.
