Friendsgiving Tasting Menu
November is the season for gatherings and we are loving the fad of having a slightly more casual celebration of gratitude- with people you choose, aka friends!
Check out our inspiration menu below- you’ll find nourishing dishes made with simple whole-food ingredients that can be easily modified to be enjoyed by anyone with dietary restrictions on the invite list. Friendsgiving is Thanksgiving’s cooler cousin, with more relaxed fare, without the pressure of a Norman Rockwell holiday Painting. Whether you go for the full-turkey spread or an array of apps, you’ll be sure to find at least one recipe below to add to the table.
Appetizer: Baked Honey, Pear, Brie (or choice of lactose or dairy free cheese) Bites
A crowd pleaser, easy to prepare before guests arrive and pop into the oven as you say your hellos. If needed, use a gluten free baguette (Schar brand is good) and DF cheese (DF boursin would be great).
https://www.sweetandsavourypursuits.com/pear-and-brie-crostini/
Salad: Autumn Pear and Feta Salad: salads are the dark horse of any thanksgiving meal- after the typical richness of the classics, you might notice guests are gravitating toward fresh and this salad delivers on flavor and crunch. You can use honeycrisp as written- or sub out for pears you’ll likely have leftover from the crostini! The dressing you’ll make from scratch is full of herbs and makes the salad!
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/autumn-harvest-honeycrisp-apple-and-feta-salad/
Soup: Roasted Feta and Butternut Squash Soup: we love a dish with minimal hands-on time and this one roasts in the oven before being transformed into a silky soup in your blender/food processor. Make it ahead and heat it over the stove for an inviting scent as everyone arrives! I think you could easily leave out the feta for a dairy free version.
https://rachlmansfield.com/roasted-feta-and-butternut-squash-soup
Side: Cacio e Pepe Potatoes: Simple to assemble, naturally gluten free and bursting with the flavors we crave at any holiday gathering- these potatoes may be the crowd favorite- maybe make a double batch? This dish will also ensure your house is smelling amazing! Instead of individual stacks, I layered all my potatoes together to fill a 9x9 inch baking dish.
https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/potato-stacks/
Dessert: Pecan Pie Bars: I think you know you’ve reached adult status when you’re drawn to a dessert headlining pecans, but before you cast doubt, hear me when I say this recipe is on repeat in my household at the holidays- and I’d like to think it’s actually providing fuel for you too. We love a functional treat. Oh and did I mention these are also vegan and paleo?
https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/pecan-pie-bars/