One night, presumably over Martini's at the Tunnel Bar, Mac and I mused to ourselves. "It's too bad that basically the only way to break away from family and start your own Thanksgiving tradition is to get married. And who thinks that's a very favorable option? Why can't we just create our OWN holiday?"
It was then that Friendsgiving was born.
We decided to have our Friendsgiving the weekend before Thanksgiving, so that people could actually go. For weeks we planned a menu, debated as to the number of people we could fit in my kitchen/living room, and thought of ways to decorate. When the day came, Mac and I chose the smart route, and took the entire day to leisurely cook what we needed. The menu?
Spinach Dip in a Hungry Ghost French Bread Bowl
Cauliflower Au Gratin*
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Parmesan and Garlic Stuffing
Stuffing with Apples and Vegetarian Sausage
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
And not one, but TWO Tofurkey's with an Orange Juice and Soy Sauce Glaze*
Plus, the generous food donations from Friendsgiving Attendees:
Mashed Artichokes
Corn Pudding
Butternut Squash with Marshmallows
For Dessert?
Pumpkin Pie with Blackberry Brandy
Chocolate Guinness Cake with Baileys Cream Cheese Frosting
Mulled Apple Cider
Eggnog
All in all, we pretty much ate ourselves silly.
And made hand turkeys with Crayolas.
And drank, a LOT.
And had conversations that reminded us why we wanted to have a Thanksgiving with just our friends in the first place.
For our first big showing, I was pretty damn proud of us. We have set the bar.
-Nikki
*Recipes from this meeting:
Cauliflower Au Gratin
1. Cut a whole cauliflower into florets and steam 'till tender; 10-12 minutes.
2. Place into ovenproof baking dish.
3. Make Bechamel sauce- Melt 2 TBSP butter in saucepan. Stir in 2 TBSP flour; cook stirring for a minute or two. Slowly add (while stirring) 1c milk; add salt and pepper to taste. Cook and stir until thickened, about 10 minutes, over low heat. Pour over cauliflower in casserole.
4. Grate cheese (cheddar or Jalapeno pepper jack cheese or a mix), 1 1/2-2c. Sprinkle over sauced cauliflower.
5. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over all.
6. Bake @ 350 for 20-25 minutes 'till bubbly and browned.
Tofurkey with Orange Juice and Soy Sauce Glaze
1. Thaw frozen Roast & Gravy in refrigerator for at least 24 hours prior to cooking.
2. Remove plastic casing.
3. Place roast either in tightly covered casserole dish or aluminum foil and surround with veggies: 2 potatoes, quartered and peeled, 2 large carrots split down the middle and cut into 2” pieces, 1 onion quartered and peeled
4. Make glaze with 1/4 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup soy sauce, and 1 Tablespoon of sugar. Pour half of the mixture over roast and veggies.
5. Cover tightly or wrap tightly in foil and cook at 350F for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
6. Pour the rest of the glaze over items in pan and cook for another 10 minutes.
7. Allow to cool for a minute, then slice thin pieces with a serrated knife.
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