Thanksgiving is all about expressing gratitude for the good things in life— and near the top of that list are great friends. Sometime during the holiday weekend, celebrate them with a Friendsgiving, a more laid-back version of the traditional family get-together.
the eats
>> Plan to make the turkey yourself, as transporting a large roasted bird is no easy feat! You also could put a fun twist on the traditional by preparing cornish game hens or roasted chicken.
>> Before dinner, mingle with simple appetizers. This is supposed to be a fun, relaxed event, so make sure dishes can be made ahead or assembled in minutes. Offer cheese and crackers, olives, jalapeno jelly with goat cheese, shrimp cocktail, marinated mushrooms and spinach-artichoke dip.
the treats
>> Have a few guests bring wine and beer. Mix up a batch of bourbon punch and set out glasses so guests can help themselves. Before the meal, pour a little bubbly to kick off the festive evening.
>> Keep desserts simple by ordering adorable mini cakes from Chesterfield’s Nothing Bundt Cakes or freshly baked goodies from Hot Box Cookies. Serve with a scoop of ice cream.
>> Brew up coffee—both decaf and regular—to serve with dessert.
the setting
>> Purchase affordable seasonal bouquets from Trader Joe’s. Place on the table along with groupings of mini gourds, and light a fe w candles (unscented, of course—no point in competing with the yummy food smells).
>> Make place cards: Write guests’ names on cream-colored card stock, punch a hole in the top corner and thread with a small sprig of rosemary.
the extras
>> Play the gratitude game! Have guests anonymously write out what the y’re grateful for and place it in a jar . Take turns randomly selecting and reading these out loud, guessing who wrote what.
>> After the meal, pull out cards and a few games, such as Cards Against Humanity or Pictionary.
>> Ask guests to bring along food containers so they can share in the leftovers.