The Ultimate Guide to a Pandemic Friendsgiving

By Harley Frechette

We are hurtling towards the holiday season without pause, trying to keep up with the tosses and turns the world continues to throw at us. A season that usually feels so familiar, happy, and warm is filled with collective anxiety, dooming headlines, and an unsettling uncertainty. At a time when most of us are usually dreaming up our holiday ensembles and deciding what pie we would like to contribute to the dessert table, we are instead contemplating if a return home or visits to family are plausible — or even safe.

Apple Pie | Photo Credits of Harley Frechette

Each day, the world seems to be a bit more unrecognizable, but despite it all, our friends have been there. Friends have been a crucial pillar to my emotional stability in recent months, and the chance to celebrate them is an opportunity I do not plan to pass up. Ladies and gentlemen, get out your planners — this year we are (safely) going to acknowledge and appreciate the love we have for our friends on Friendsgiving, exact date at your convenience. Here are recipes and celebration ideas to inspire a day of safe festivities.

Although not ideal, Zoom can be a good substitute for in-person events. So, take advantage of your Zoom expertise and host your Friendsgiving celebration online. Try a virtual baking night or cooking lesson. Tackle the apple or pumpkin pie with your friends and have a contest for best pie-adornment skills — check out Erin McDowell’s Instagram for decor inspiration. Once you’re finished, have your Instagram followers decide the winner via story poll if you’re feeling daring. 

Mushroom Bourguignon | Photo Credits of @NYTcooking

 Another fun way to celebrate is through a dessert swap. Throw everyone’s names into a generator (à la Secret Santa) and set a date to swap — outdoors, of course! My favorite part of these swaps is the family recipes and stories that accompany the sweets.

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks and it would be a missed opportunity if we didn’t spend at least part of the celebration making it about just that. Pick a day and exchange messages with your friends, thanking them for all they do and sharing a sweet memory or two. This is a great activity to do with your friends from home who are scattered around the country.

Obviously, the tried-and-true option for Thanksgiving would be a sit-down meal, over Zoom, with your friends. For that, I’ve developed a specialized menu for your 2020 Friendsgiving dinner.

Creamed spinach, green beans and mashed potatoes are non-negotiables for me at the Thanksgiving table. Before you shut your laptop and scoff at me and my creamed spinach, allow me to argue my case. The most untalented chefs can whip this up in minutes, and I swear to you it will taste heavenly. Anything matched with cream cheese, cheese, and garlic is bound to be a success, even spinach. Once you take a bite of this, I promise that it will be a regular at your holiday table as well. 

Personally, I am neutral on the turkey argument. Often I hear people say that it is dry, and to that I say, “add more gravy.” But to be honest, turkey is not a personal requirement for my successful Thanksgiving. If there are members of your guest list who won’t go near turkey, I suggest you tackle the New York Times recipe for mushroom bourguignon. The deep flavors are vegetarian-friendly and satisfy Thanksgiving’s requirement for decadence and warmth at the dinner table. 

There is no better way to conclude the night than with an unapologetically autumnal pie, my personal favorites being apple and pumpkin — ice cream not required, but highly recommended. These dishes are almost as fun to make as they are to eat and are a fun challenge to tackle with a group of friends.

A still from the Thanksgiving Episode on Friends| Photo Credits of Entertainment Weekly

While continuing to do our part in limiting exposure, we can use technology to create a fun night for celebrating the relationships we treasure most. This holiday season will look and feel a bit different than years past, but the ones that we love are still with us, perhaps just not physically near. A night spent eating pie and giving thanks might be exactly what we need to get this bizarre holiday season kicked off on the right foot.