Every few years, our group of friends will throw a Friendsgiving. Not to be confused with actual Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving is held in the weeks leading up to that feast-filled Thursday in November.
Everyone brings one or two dishes and multiple bottles of wine. Games are played. Merriment is had. It is very much like Thanksgiving, but extract all the family drama* and just add in extreme fun. (*If you don't have any family drama, then just add in more extreme fun on top of all the other extreme fun you're already having with your functional family. I am sure you are well-adjusted and probably pleasant to be around.)
In honor of Friendsgiving, here are some tips for organizing:
1. Timing: Pick a date when everyone is still in town and not feeling guilty already about eating too much over the holidays. This is key. Holiday fatigue could ruin your Friendsgiving. People might just show up with a variety of kale salads, and everything will be for naught. (
For naught in this context means
too healthy.) Early to mid-November is best when the Halloween candy is gone and cravings for sweet potatoes start to surface.
2. Potluck it!: Assign or distribute dishes and make sure all important ones are taken, like the ever essential turkey and should-be-a-staple creamy macaroni and cheese with pancetta and bread crumbs. This will prevent overlaps and make it clear that picking up chips and salsa from the grocery store is not contributing to the potluck. Also, offer to help any friends that hate to cook with their dishes or even pick out a can't-fail recipe for them, like mashed potatoes or green bean casserole.
3. Dietary restrictions: Have options for everyone: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc. A non-stuffed friend is a sad friend on this holiday.
This will essentially be the best potluck you will ever throw because Thanksgiving food makes people happier than anything else in the universe and your friends are the most awesome people on the planet. Enjoy!
(Image via
Pinterest)
