Unlike extended family holiday dinners that come with lots of family traditions, Friendsgiving is way more relaxed. It’s basically a potluck and anything goes. But if you’re hosting your squad’s dinner this Thanksgiving, here are some guidelines to follow so you don’t end up overwhelmed and under-prepared on turkey day.
- Don’t attempt to host Friendsgiving dinner alone - Sure, you are completely capable of doing it all by yourself, by why would you when you’re friends and guests are happy to contribute. So let them and avoid a stressful holiday.
- Plan ahead - By now, people have probably made plans, so if you’re a procrastinator, send your invites out ASAP.
- Create a flexible menu plan - Outline a menu and ask guests what they want to bring, so you know you’ve got all the essential Thanksgiving dishes represented.
- Embrace technology - Organizing your Friendsgiving potluck is much easier with online planners like Perfect Potluck or even Google Docs.C
- You can direct but not demand - You can ask dinner guests to bring a specific dish, but don’t assign something if they don’t ask to contribute. And definitely don’t force anyone to use a specific recipe, you don’t want to force them.
- There's nothing wrong with too much food - Leftovers make everyone happy on Thanksgiving, so don’t be afraid you’ll have too much food. You will and that’s a good thing.
- Be inclusive - Lots of people have dietary restrictions, so check with guests to see if they do. Most of the time, non-meat eaters or gluten-free folks will volunteer to bring something they can eat and you can make easy swaps to accommodate dishes so they can eat them, too.
- Don't forget to include non-cooks - We’re not all as skilled in the kitchen as you are, but there’s plenty of stuff to contribute to Friendsgiving that doesn’t require cooking. You’ll need wine, non-alcoholic drinks, bread, ice, and maybe flowers for the table, too.
- It's not all about the food - It’s a holiday, make it festive. Use the good plates, cloth napkins, and candle holders.
- Stock up on disposable containers for leftovers - You’re going to need stuff to send all those leftovers home in, and you don’t want your guests to wipe out your Tupperware stash.
Source: The Kitchn