<P> Other dishes reflect the region or cultural background of those who have come together for the meal . For example, Sauerkraut (among those in the Mid-Atlantic; especially Baltimore) is sometimes served . Many African Americans and Southerners serve baked macaroni and cheese and collard greens, along with chitterlings and sweet potato pie, while some Italian - Americans often have lasagne on the table and Ashkenazi Jews may serve noodle kugel, a sweet dessert pudding . Other Jewish families may consume foods commonly associated with Hanukkah, such as latkes or a sufganiyah; the two holidays are usually in close proximity and on extremely rare occasions overlap . It is not unheard of for Mexican Americans to serve their turkey with mole and roasted corn . In Puerto Rico, the Thanksgiving meal is completed with arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) or arroz con maiz (rice with corn), pasteles (root tamales) stuffed with turkey, pumpkin - coconut crème caramel, corn bread with longaniza, potato salad, roasted white sweet potatoes and Spanish sparkling hard cider . Turkey in Puerto Rico is stuffed with mofongo . Cuban - Americans traditionally serve the turkey alongside a small roasted pork and include white rice and black beans or kidney beans . Vegetarians or vegans have been known to serve alternative entree centerpieces such as a large vegetable pie or a stuffed and baked pumpkin or tofu substitutes . Many Midwesterners (such as Minnesotans) of Norwegian or Scandinavian descent set the table with lefse . </P> <P> The beverages at Thanksgiving can vary as much as the side dishes, often depending on who is present at the table and their tastes . Spirits or cocktails sometimes may be served before the main meal . On the dinner table, unfermented apple cider (still or sparkling) or wine are often served . Pitchers of sweet tea can often be found on Southern tables . Beaujolais nouveau is sometimes served, and the beverage has been marketed as a Thanksgiving drink since the producers of the wine (which is made available only for a short window each year) set the annual release date to be one week before Thanksgiving beginning in 1985 . </P>

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