The Ultimate Guide to Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving isn't as formal as a traditional Thanksgiving gathering, but it's still a good idea to have a solid guest list. Send out invites through email or snail mail, and request an RSVP at least two weeks before the party. This lets you know how many guests to prepare for.

Hosting Friendsgiving is completely doable if you stick with basic, crowd-pleasing dishes. Make sure to do your research and come up with recipes that let seasonal produce shine and don't require a ton of ingredients. Purchase premade items, like pie, sugar cookie dough, and bottled sparkling juices. Instead of making a whole turkey, try cooking just a breast. It is tasty, cooks faster, takes up less room in the oven, and will be more than enough food for all.

The last thing you want is to be stuck mixing drinks for guests all night, so coming up with a signature cocktail makes it easy. Fill a glass with ice, then add one ounce vodka and half an ounce of orange liqueur, and top with IZZE® Sparkling Pomegranate. Use spears of rosemary to skewer orange slices, then add a sprig of sage or even a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds as garnish. This recipe is tasty and perfectly seasonal.

Even if there aren't any leftovers, put together cute Friendsgiving goodie boxes using Chinese takeout containers. Pack them with pieces of pie or cinnamon-dusted sugar cookies, which are so easy to make. Simply slice chilled rolls of cookie dough and bake according to the package's direction. Add equal parts sugar and cinnamon to a zip-top bag, and shake cookies in the mixture while they're still warm. The result is beyond delicious and makes for the cherry on top of a perfect meal.