We were all taught that Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. But there’s historical evidence pointing to present-day El Paso as being the location of the first Thanksgiving and it occurred more than 20 years earlier in 1597 when at least 400 Spaniards, in an exploration led by Juan de Oñate, feasted with the Mansos tribe. While that may not qualify as the Thanksgiving we know today, it certainly means there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate turkey day!
So, if you’re hosting your first Thanksgiving, we’ve got some tips to ensure smooth sailing and festive feasting!
Delegate
There can be a lot of pressure on the host to pull off a flawless meal, decorate, and entertain guests. So, our first piece of advice is to never turn down help! Thanksgiving is often a potluck affair and as such you are free to delegate, delegate, delegate. Have guests bring dishes that stress you out or take a long time to prepare. This way you can focus on the dishes most important to you. Friends and family are there to help and often feel at a loss as to how to assist. This is a great way to have the bar manned, the table set, and the TV on the right football game.
Work Ahead
When you’re planning your meal, keep an eye out for dishes or parts of dishes that can be made in advance. This will keep the last-minute stress to a minimum by having things that can be reheated like casseroles, or sides like cranberry sauce, all ready to go.
Another excellent time saver is to set your table the night before. This way your home already looks decorated and ready for dinner when guests arrive.
Stock The Bar
Don’t try to cater to every guest, instead just stock up on the 5 basics of every home bar:
Vodka – one of the most popular spirits in the world and a go-to for many cocktails.
Gin – A base spirit for many classic cocktails due to its wonderfully complex flavor profile.
Bourbon Whiskey – On the rocks, neat, or in a cocktail, bourbon whiskey is the essential American spirit.
Tequila – A must-have for trips to Margaritaville, but which type you stock depends on your intentions. Gold tequila is usually used for mixing, while silver is used for serving straight up.
Rum – The sweetest of the bunch, rum is an exotic go-to. Use the darker rums for punches and the lighter rums for cocktails.
You might also consider capping the end of dinner with a digestif. Digestifs are usually served straight up and sipped over conversation and signal not only the end of the meal but the winding down of the entire evening. Digestifs are found in a wide variety of flavors and colors, but they all serve one specific purpose: help you digest a large meal and hopefully avoid a food coma. They typically incorporate a high alcohol content, a little sweetness, are often boldly bitter, and are packed with bitters, spices, and herbs that ease indigestion, like fennel, caraway, lemon verbena, or artichoke.
Recommended Digestifs
Aquavit
A Scandinavian recipe typically served chilled. With caraway being the dominant spice in aquavit, you’ll notice a flavor similar to rye bread.
Chartreuse
Both the green and yellow varieties are made by French monks and are made from 130 plants giving them a deeply spicy and herbal flavor. The green is known to be less sweet and more intense.
Strega
Considered the lighter Roman cousin of Chartreuse, Strega is a popular Italian herbal liqueur. It gets its brilliant yellow color from saffron, and contains 70 ingredients with hints of fennel, mint, anise, cloves, and nutmeg.
Cynar
A type of Italian Amaro that is a bit intense, but not overly so. You’ll find light herbal flavors and notes of dark roasted coffee on the palate. Artichoke leaves add a distinctive flavor and aid in digestion.
Fernet
Another style of the Italian Amaro, this fernet is actually made in Minneapolis and is quite well-balanced. It’s bitter but not harsh, minty but not too powerful, herbal, and dry.
Underberg
Similar to Fernet, but German, Underberg comes in a tiny bottle containing .67 ounces of this highly effective digestif. Made with herbs sourced from 43 countries and aged in Slovenian oak, it’s extremely herbaceous and strong.
Amaro
One of Italy’s most prized labels of amaro is Amaro Montenegro which is thick and quite bittersweet. Crafted from a secret blend of 40 botanicals, it achieves the perfect balance of bitter and sweet.
One White, One Red
A good and simple strategy for Thanksgiving wine is to select a very good white and a very good red, offering your guests their choice.
For reds, look for soft tannins that will yield to and blend with your dishes, like Pinot Noir, Syrah, a fruity Zinfandel, Merlot, or Beaujolais Nouveau will delight most red wine lovers without overpowering lighter turkey flavors.
For white wine, look for a wine with well-balanced acidity. Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, an unoaked or low-oak Chardonnay, or Viognier are all good choices for those who prefer traditional white wines. Non-traditional white wines that will work nicely are Albariño and Grüner Veltliner.
Never Run Out: Always have the equivalent of at least a bottle per person ready to pour as this is a bountiful holiday.
Dessert is a Texas Tradition
After spending hours devouring plate after plate of Thanksgiving dinner, there’s no physiological reason you should have room for dessert, but let’s be real – most of our stomachs contain a magical wormhole that leads to another stomach dimension where we apparently have plenty of room for dessert.
And it’s no wonder this secret portal exists as no Thanksgiving meal is complete until we’ve dug into our second (or third) slice of pie. Pie is the universal Thanksgiving Day dessert and if you’re going to unbutton your pants, there’s no better reason than another slice of pie!
And Spec’s Maple Pecan Pie made with Crown Royal Deluxe Whisky is a favorite across the Lonestar State! It’s everything you love about pie with a subtle kick of everything you love about whisky. The infusion of Crown Royal mixed with real maple extract and loads of buttery goodness highlights the seasonal flavors in every slice of sticky sweet pecan perfection! But you’ll want to hurry in and get yours soon as these handmade beauties are only available for a limited time!
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