Friendsgiving is the less formal, less fussy, just basically friendlier version of the big cook-till-you-drop fall holiday. So why stress over cooking the perfect turkey and sides? After all, you’re entertaining your besties here, not your picky aunts and grannies. So go easy on yourself. Break with Thanksgiving tradition and start a Friendsgiving trend with these easy food ideas.
The Easy Friendsgiving Idea: Asian Hot Pot
What’s more fun than celebrating with friends around a fire? Hot Pot is the Asian version of it, and we think it’s a great idea for a fun Friendsgiving.
Start with a hot pot broth base - we like the kit from Hot Pot Queen that comes with both broth base and noodles included - but our Asian departments carry flavors for every palate. Next select a protein of your choice - such as thinly sliced beef or pork, meatballs, sausage slices, fresh seafood, or tofu. Add veggies like shredded carrots, mushrooms, bok choy, cabbage, and broccoli. Finish with a fun addition like fishcakes, dumplings, eggs, or noodles.
STEP 1: Prep all your ingredients and arrange them on plates for easy viewing and selection.
STEP 2: Heat the broth on your stove or electric tabletop burner (if you don’t have one, your stove will do) until simmering.
STEP 3: With chopsticks or tongs, add your selected ingredients to the simmering broth.
STEP 4: Once the meat is cooked and veggies are tender (happens quickly, about 2 minutes) ladle broth, noodles, proteins, and vegetables into individual bowls. Serve with a variety of dipping sauces. Repeat in the remaining broth trying different combos until full and happy!
For more detailed instructions, see our hot pot recipe.
The Even Easier Friendsgiving Idea: Cioppino
We make Our Own Cioppino soup base in-house, so it tastes like you slaved over it all day at yours. Just follow these super easy steps and enjoy the instant smiles on your friends’ faces.
STEP 1: Open a package of Our Own Cioppino Soup Base, pour it into a pot, and heat to medium.
STEP 2: Add fresh seafood to the cooking liquid (our meat and seafood staff recommends Blue North cod, sockeye salmon, scallops, clams, and mussels.) Cover and cook until the clams and mussels begin to open, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and fish. Simmer gently until the fish and shrimp are just cooked through, and the clams are completely open, stirring gently, about 5 minutes longer (discard any clams and mussels that do not open).
STEP 3: Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with some crusty bread (we like Macrina Sourdough) to sop up all the goodness in the bottom of the bowl.
The Easiest Friendsgiving Idea Imaginable: Wine and Cheese Party
Why not throw a Friendsgiving party where pretty much all you have to do is open the door? Ask each guest to bring their favorite wine and cheese, while you dazzle the crowd with a cheese board full of our staff picks for the month.
STEP 1: Place our November Cheese of Choice, Tulip Tree Queen Anne’s Lace, on a board with crackers, nuts, fruits, and whatever other nibbles you like. This small-batch, gold-medal-winning, soft-ripened triple-cream cheese is special enough to carry the party.
STEP 2: Pop open a bottle of Extra Dry Mille Prosecco to welcome your guests, feel the velvety bubbles tickle your palate, and notice how the notes of honey and stone fruit bring out the richness of the cheese.
STEP 3: Uncork an inky purple Savaiah Syrah from Yakima Valley. Its flavors of wild raspberry, cherry cola, boysenberry, cocoa nibs, incense, and dark spice pair beautifully with the delicacy of the Queen Anne’s Lace, or any other good cheese that might show up to your celebration.