Friendsgiving: Gobble 'til You Wobble

Thanksgiving is a holiday that usually takes a backseat. Sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas, most stores and homes pack on the garland and lights before the turkey is even cold. Not in my house! I was determined to let Thanksgiving shine with a Friendsgiving full of tasty cocktails, pumpkin spice candles, and delectable nibbles.

I decided to host our small gathering on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. I kept the menu light with hot/cold appetizers and tasked everyone to bring a dish to pass. Besides the champagne flutes and stemless wine glasses, I took advantage of easy cleanup with paper plates and plastic forks.

I transformed our stovetop into a makeshift bar area to prep a few fall cocktails I discovered on Pinterest. I greeted guests with a sparkling cinnamon champagne cocktail followed by a spiced pear gin cocktail.

The festive made-to-order drinks started the night right! My final cocktail was a Fireball sangria with fresh apple cider and pears. The batch was was easy to make ahead of time and store in the fridge. I had a blast testing my mixology skills!

The menu consisted of a variety of tried-and-true finger foods. The centerpiece was a bountiful charcuterie board filled with prosciutto, spicy salami, nuts, grapes, figs, and pomegranates. Wisconsin cheddar, Gruyere, Parmigiana Reggiano, Gouda, and herb goat cheese paired well with the fresh bread and whole grain crackers.

I assembled the charcuterie board an hour before the party in order to bring the cheese to room temperature. Flavor profiles and textures are enhanced with this useful trick!

I whipped up a batch of tangy tzatziki to go with a platter of fresh vegetables. For a warm appetizer, I prepared stuffed mushrooms with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. The day before I made a sweet and salty peanut butter chocolate bark with a caramel drizzle. Store-bought mini pumpkin spice cupcakes and potato chips made things a bit easier!

I brightened up the apartment with a couple of flower bouquets. I took advantage of the fall decor on sale at Hobby Lobby and picked up some supplies for votive candles. An orange table runner and several adorable scarecrows finished the look.

A party isn't complete without a few rounds of competitive beer pong! We filled the cups up with water to avoid a sticky mess. No unwanted fuzz was going into my sangria! Brad created the bracket and teams were couples. Competing with 2000s party hits thumping in the background brought us back to our college days.

Hosting Friendsgiving was a great way to bring our friends together and show them how much they mean to us. Moving from Wisconsin to Texas has brought new experiences, valuable friendships, and lasting memories. I am thankful for many things, but good company, flavorful food, and laughter is a combination hard to beat!