The older we get, the more we begin to form our own traditions and find new ways to spend the holidays. A great way to have a nice Thanksgiving is to host a Friendsgiving. For those who have never heard of a Friendsgiving before, its when you gather a group of friends to be with on Thanksgiving instead of going to a family member’s home. This is a fun and alternative way to spend the holiday. Here’s how to host the perfect Friendsgiving:
The Guest List
When it comes to deciding who to invite, there’s a lot to think about. Everyone has certain groups of friends from work, social life and other settings from our day-to-day. Try keeping it to one group that already gets along and would love to spend the holiday together. That being said, it’s also important to not exclude anyone. If you know a friend who doesn’t have any plans for the holiday, ask if they’d like to join in on the fun. It’s also a good idea to invite friends who don’t have any family close by. This is the holiday that brings people together.
Everyone Gets a Job
Chances are, you will not have enough hands to be host and chef at the same time. Friendsgiving should remain as stress-free and laid back as possible, which is why everyone should chip in. Have everyone sign up for a dish they’d like to make or bring with them. Depending on how small your kitchen might be, having everyone help with food will take much of the burden away. Other friends can also help decorate or set the table. Not only does this make for a great meal, but it’s also something fun you can all do together.
Recipes to Try
There are so many delicious recipes perfect for traditional Thanksgiving and the alternative Friendsgiving. Before the big feast, hand out appetizers and delicious finger foods for guests to snack on. A few great finger foods would be Spicy Chicken Food Balls, Harvest Cheese Ball or Ham and Cheese Pinwheels. These are super easy to make and really delicious. For the main feast of the day, other than the turkey, Grilled Butternut Squash and Spicy-Honey Glazed Chicken and Sweet Potato Kebabs are always favorites. While choosing the perfect recipes be sure to keep in mind any food or dietary restrictions your friends may have.
Enjoy the Party
It could be easy to get wrapped up in being the perfect host to your friends, but it’s important to not stress out over the holiday and have a good time. You don’t want to put too much planning into it or you’re going to feel under pressure. Keep the atmosphere relaxed and laid back. Don’t worry whether the decorations are perfect or if everyone is making sure they used a coaster. The whole point of a Friendsgiving is to relax, eat great food and have fun with your friends.