Relax This Friendsgiving

(Image courtesy of Satya Murthy)

Due to travel issues and time constraints it’s sometimes difficult to make it back home to see our loved ones for the holidays. Though your family is with your in your heart this year doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy friendship and food this Thanksgiving!

Host a Friendsgiving this year with a few of your closest friends, or those that also can’t make it home to be with loved ones, and you’re well on your way to having a great time. Follow just a few of these simple tips from renters.apartments.com and you can skip the stress and just enjoy the evening.

Shop Early

Plan your menu and then hit the grocery store early and get everything you need. The only thing worse than traveling on Thanksgiving is going to the grocery store on Thanksgiving.

Prep Ahead

If you’re getting all fancy and making something like, say, homemade piecrust, be sure to make the dough the day before. Check your recipes and see what can/needs to be prepped in advance.

Don’t Forget to Defrost

Buying a frozen turkey? Don’t forget to take that sucker out of the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge well in advance of cook time (allow one day for every 5lbs of bird to thaw). And when it comes to cooking? Cook 15 minutes for each pound of fowl.

Embrace the Potluck

Enlist your guests to supply sides and desserts. No need to feel like you have to do absolutely everything all by yourself. You’re all in this together after all.

Have a Buddy

Or just have a friend or two hang with you all day and cook together. Few things bring friends together like trying to dress a turkey over mimosas on Thanksgiving morning.

Keep the Wine Flowing

Obviously. One of the glorious things about Friendsgiving is that you don’t have to be on your best behavior or worry about anyone judging you for how much vino happens to fill your cup.

Don’t Over-Plan

Unless your friends are super into schedules, leave the afternoon/evening open-ended. If it turns into an afternoon of watching football, great! If Cards Against Humanity comes out as whiskey starts being poured, great! This is your holiday, do whatever you want.

Think UnThanksgiving

At the end of the day, nothing says you MUST stick to a traditional Thanksgiving menu. If you decide you’d rather make Thai or Italian, go for it. Why not have a make-your-own sushi Friendsgiving and have everyone bring their fave ingredients?

You can do anything you damn well please on Friendsgiving – be creative and have fun!