Crafting the Perfect Thanksgiving
By Elena Giorgi
The holidays are a perfect time to make a plan to see the friends that make the previous 11 months of the year worthwhile. While it can seem hard to squeeze a little play in the midst of end-of-the-year work, quality time is always a good idea. There is something special about inviting your girls over for a potluck-style Friendsgiving and decorating your house with themed decor. Hosting might seem daunting, but a few simple tricks will make your holiday party talked about for the coming year.
Set A Menu
Potlucks are the perfect way to ensure everyone contributes to the dinner but with the freedom to make something they are good at. Send out a list that includes spots for your friends to add what they want to bring. If you’re going for a Thanksgiving vibe, the classics are the best way to go. This way you don’t have too many of one thing and everyone can make their best dish. Alice recommends asking your two strongest links in the kitchen to make a medium-sized serving of two different main courses – try a turkey breast and a butternut squash ravioli dish. Then, put four people on to make side dishes – think sweet potato casserole, stuffing, a green vegetable and homemade dinner rolls. Give your friend who can’t cook very well a salad or have them pick up a pie from a local bakery.
Set A Mood
To tie it all together, ask your busiest friend to arrive twenty minutes early and decorate the room – tablecloths, a bouquet of flowers, themed napkins – so they don’t have to spend time preparing in the kitchen. Ask everyone to wear something holiday-themed so that you can get a cohesive group photo. Light a few candles around the room, some scented and some not, so that there is dynamic lighting. Have a crackling fireplace on the TV if you don’t have a real one to start. Greet guests at the door with a hot cup of apple cider and thank them for coming.
Set A Meaning
After everyone has grabbed a plate and made their way to the table, give a toast to the group filled with gratitude for good friendship and good food. Encourage everyone to go around the table and say three things that they are grateful for this past year and one thing they look forward to in the next year. Purchase a film camera ahead of time and use it all up in one night. Take photos of the food, the people, the room and everything else in between. Develop the photos to share with the group at the next gathering. Have a game ready to play after dinner to keep everyone together and laughing. Look up “Empire Name Game” or “Fishbowl” on Google – they are perfect for big groups and will warrant many laughs. Thank your wonderful friends for bringing a dish and celebrating friendship and holidays together!
