How to Host the Ultimate Friendsgiving

Celebrating Thanksgiving with friends who feel like family? If you’re hosting your first Friendsgiving (or new to hosting altogether) no worries: With a little planning (and some help from your friends) you’ll be on your way to hosting a fabulous Friendsgiving filled with food, fun, and gratitude.

4 Tips for a Successful Friendsgiving Feast

Delegate dishes: Prepare the turkey (or other main course) in your kitchen and use a digital sign-up sheet so friends can sign up to bring specific foods or their choice around a category (like appetizer, beverages, casserole, salad, bread, potato dish, veggie side dish, and dessert). Feeling adventurous? Ask everyone to bring a dish that starts with their first initial.
Note food allergies and dietary restrictions: Ask guests to list any allergies/dietary preferences when they RSVP so you can ensure your menu includes options for everyone to safely enjoy. Before the feast, label dishes for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and/or nut-free options.
Keep it simple, small, and casual: Consider the size of your space when you plan your guest list. A group of 6-8 (and no more than 10) is a good-sized gathering. Prefer to host a brunch or lunch instead of dinner? Put your own twist on tradition. With Friendsgiving, anything goes!
Host a Friendsgiving that gives back to the community: In addition to a dish for the feast, ask guests to bring canned/nonperishable foods to donate to your local food pantry.

Serve these simple, satisfying snacks while guests arrive.

Garlic and Olive Oil Dip

This salty, savory 5-ingredient garlic and olive oil dip comes together in just 5 minutes. This recipe serves 4, so scale up to feed a larger crowd.

Ingredients

1-2 tsp Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper & salt to taste
For garnish: Fresh chopped parsley or basil
Focaccia or sourdough bread for dipping

Instructions

Add Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic, red pepper flakes, and oregano to a medium-sized shallow bowl or plate. Grate parmesan directly into the bowl, then pour the olive oil over top.
Stir everything together with a spoon and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add fresh chopped parsley (or basil) on top, if desired.
Serve with pieces of bread for dipping and enjoy!
To store: This olive oil dip can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Simply bring to room temperature before serving.

Vegan French Onion Dip

This creamy, craveable Vegan French Onion Dip is a real crowd-pleaser. Save prep time by using Spice World Easy Onion and Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic in place of a whole onion and whole garlic cloves. Serve with ruffled potato chips, crisp raw veggies, or toasted bread.

Ingredient

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup Spice World Easy Onion
1 tsp Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic
1 ⅓ cups vegan sour cream (or creamy non-dairy yogurt)
1 tsp tamari
¾ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
White vinegar to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley to garnish

Instructions

Heat oil in a pan and once hot add Spice World Easy Onion. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, then add a splash of water to help deglaze the pan. Keep cooking the onion for about 10-15 more minutes, adding more liquid if needed, until nicely caramelized.
In a medium bowl, add vegan sour cream (or non-dairy yogurt), caramelized onions, and all other ingredients. Stir to combine.
Taste it and adjust seasonings to your preference. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat. Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!

DIY Dessert: Cookie Decorating Station

This Friendsgiving, think outside the pie and set up a cookie decorating station with gingerbread cookies shaped like turkeys, pumpkins, and fall leaves. Send home extras in to-go containers with lids or goody bags.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
½ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 egg
¾ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
3 tsp Spice World Squeezable Ginger
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup unsulfured molasses

Instructions

Heat your oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, Spice World Squeezable Ginger, and molasses; beat until well combined.
Combine dry ingredients, then gradually add to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
Separate dough in half and cover it in plastic wrap. Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for around 3 hours.
After the dough is chilled, use a small-walled glass or a rolling pin to roll out into around ¼ inch thick sheet.
Use Thanksgiving cookie cutters to cut out fun fall shapes, and lay cookies on baking sheet.
Bake for around 9-10 minutes. Remove from oven.
Allow cookies to cool completely, then decorate with colored icing and toppings of your choice.

Beyond the Meal: Your Friendsgiving Checklist

Serving utensils: Ask friends to bring a serving utensil along with their dish.
Butcher paper: Use it as a tablecloth and have guests write their name and the name of their dish. Pass out crayons and/or Sharpies and let everyone doodle on the tablecloth the way we did years ago at the kids’ table.
Cooler/bucket for drinks and bags of ice
Space in the fridge (for items that won’t sit out at food temperature)
Reusable to-go containers with lids
Photo area with props
Card games and board games: Pick up classic party games like Apples to Apples, UNO, Trivial Pursuit, Scattergories, or Pictionary. For a more modern game play, Heads Up is a fun charades-like smart phone app: Just guess the word on the card that’s on your head (on your smartphone screen) from your friends’ clues before the timer runs out.
Lawn games: If you have the space to take the fun outdoors for a while, consider a game of cornhole, jumbo Jenga, or even a piñata filled with candy.
Stream some fun on TV: Whether you’re into football, basketball, parade floats, cute dogs, or classic movies, plan to have your TV on for a little happy distraction in the background.
Party Playlist: Find curated Friendsgiving playlists on your favorite music streaming app or create your own to fit the vibe of your event.

Let’s give thanks for good friends! Friendsgiving is a wonderful way to share traditional Thanksgiving food or create new traditions of your own. Find more menu inspiration for your ultimate Friendsgiving by downloading the Spice World Thanksgiving E-Cookbook.

How to Host the Ultimate Friendsgiving

4 Tips for a Successful Friendsgiving Feast

Garlic and Olive Oil Dip

Vegan French Onion Dip

DIY Dessert: Cookie Decorating Station

Beyond the Meal: Your Friendsgiving Checklist

Sources

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