Hosting Series: Friendsgiving Menu

I mentioned last post that Husband and I hosted our first Friendsgiving over the weekend. And what a grand time it was! Friends, wine, laughter, and an absolutely perfect, first-time-ever turkey. I only wish I had a bigger kitchen table so I could have invited more friends! I’m going to share some of the recipes over the next couple posts to hopefully inspire some creativity for your own holiday gatherings.

Here are some of the details:

1. I sent these adorable e-vites to spread the word. Simple and no stamps required!
2. I asked everyone to bring an “elevated classic” dish to share. No cans of cream of mushroom soup here!
3. I wrote out a weekly schedule of everything that needed done (shop for groceries, iron tableclothes, wash wine glasses, etc) for my house to be ready in time.
4. I borrowed things…from everyone. Chairs, napkins, gravy bowls, you name it. If I didn’t have it, I asked around and found who did.
5. I planned activities to help ease everyone into conversation. Simple things, like a shared blessing and guessing people’s list of “thankful things” helped bring everyone together for a relaxed evening.

And here is the menu! (Just typing this is making me hungry again!)

Appetizer: Roasted pear, fig, and goat cheese bruschetta

Salad: Arugala and spinach with apples, toasted hazelnuts, gorgonzola, and dried cranberries.

Dinner: Roasted turkey breast with caraway-lemon butter, Garlic mashed potatoes with chives and scallions, Sourdough stuffing with shallots and mushrooms, Gravy with bacon and carmelized onions, Root vegetables, Corn souffle, Macaroni and cheese, Seasoned roasted vegetables

Dessert: Pumpkin cheesecake with mascarpone and gingerbread.

And the best part? I didn’t have to make everything!! I loved trying everyone’s beautiful interpretation of classic Thanksgiving dishes and loved, even more, being able to catch up with my amazing friends and enjoy a perfect Bungalow holiday together.