We have hosted a Friendsgiving get together a few times. It is always a great time sitting around the dinner table enjoying a delicious meal. Generally it is a week or two before Thanksgiving, so it is a good chance to sit and relax before we dive into the holidays.
This year is (quite a bit) different and there are no traditional friendsgiving plans. With all of the distance, it would still be a good time to get together – virtually. I’m sharing a few ideas of how to make the most of a virtual event to see your friends.
Whether you’re planning a Friendsgiving, or your family Thanksgiving meal, below are some tips to make the most of a virtual event.
Hosting a Virtual Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving
The Virtual Venue
So the venue will be each of your homes, and of course online. There are a variety of services to use to host the virtual aspect of the friendsgiving such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Hangout.
If you are using Zoom, you will want to make sure that whoever sets up the call has a pro account so you don’t get kicked off after 40 minutes.
The Meal Plan
The meal for the virtual friendsgiving is where you can really get creative. There are a few different fun ideas of how to gather around a meal with your friends.
Option 1 – Everybody does their own thing
Let everybody cook their favorite meal and just get together to eat it together
Option 2 – Set menu that everybody cooks
Back in 2014-ish we were chatting with some friends about our plans for Valentine’s Day. None of us had plans, and at the time all of us were getting weekly Blue Apron meals, so we decided to gather and cook these meals together.
Some meal subscription services offer gift cards to get a single box so you don’t have to subscribe to the service to get a couple meals for the week.
As a group, you could also set a meal menu and each person cooks the same meal. Or gets the same meal from a nearby restaurant.
Option 3 – “Progressive” Meal
If everybody is nearby, and feels comfortable receiving homecooked meals during COVID time, then doing a twist of a potluck could be a great option.
For this meal option, each family is assigned a portion of the meal – the main dish, side dish, dessert, beverages, etc. They then cook enough of that item for everybody, dish it up into separate portions, and deliver to each family.
This option would work best if the dishes can easily be reheated because unless everybody is within a 5 minute radius, it will probably get cold by the time everything gets delivered. Simply deliver the meal the day before and then reheat right before the meal.
Meal Ideas
If you go for a homemade meal plan, I have a few delicious recipes that are perfect for your Friendsgiving feast.
Appetizer: Cheesy Artichoke Dip
Main Dish: Apple Cider Brined Turkey
Side Dish: Creamy & Dairy Free Sweet Potato Casserole
Side Dish: Creamy Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
Side Dish: Dairy Free Green Bean Casserole
Side Dish: Company Carrots
Dessert: Chocolate Pie
Cocktail: Apple Cider Moscow Mule
The Table Setup
Of course it is fun to decorate the dining room table, just make sure to leave a place setting for your laptop.
Also, if you have the laptop at one end of the table, the laptop camera might not be able to see people on the opposite end if it is not above the centerpiece décor.
Every fall I pull out the fall table runner that I made a few years ago, and pair it with a few of my favorite glassybaby and fun finds from throughout the year of pumpkins, acorns, and other fall items.
What are your plans this year for a friendsgiving or Thanksgiving meal?
