Last weekend, we hosted our fourth annual Friendsgiving. I can't help but fall a little bit more in love with this holiday each year. It's focus is friends, football, and food - what's not to love?!
This year we had 17 people joining us. There's nothing like sitting down to a big feast and seeing your dear friends gathered around the table, laughing and toasting to another year.
I kept decorations very simple this year, since our home has been under construction for four months now. I am craving the simplicity and calmness. So other than a couple real pumpkins here and there, I stuck to decorating the tablescape with a festive runner, votive candles and a few faux acorns here and there. My metallic mix with the new gray walls and white trim just pops now. Without getting all new decor, I have a very new and fresh look!
For food, we took care of the bird. We tried dry brining a turkey this year. I'm not sure if there was a huge difference or not. We also made a ham which could have been a disaster. I read the instructions as heat for 20 minutes, not heat for 20 minutes PER POUND. Luckily the ham was fully cooked already so we sliced it up, added some water to the pan and threw it in the oven! I was worried it would dry out but it managed to heat up quickly without losing too much liquid or flavor.
Our guests outdid themselves with the sides: mashed and sweet potatoes, cranberries, a delicious green salad, and my personal favorite, stuffing! And dessert. Oh man. We had pies galore and I made a batch of gluten free gingersnaps with apple cider glaze which might be my new favorite.
Now before you think for a moment that everything is unicorns and rainbows over here, let me tell you that 3 hours before Friendsgiving was set to begin, K asked me if we should cancel. Two days earlier our basement drain backed up. We had a guy out and he took care of it...or so he thought. Well, 2 loads of the dishwasher, 3 loads of wash, and a shower proved just how wrong he was.
So there I am, midshower, shaving my legs (we're getting real here) and conditioner in my hair, when K yells to turn the water off. Well, I instantly had flashbacks to my freshmen year of college when on the first day of school, I had just shampooed my hair when the fire alarm went off...It was a memorable first day of college!
I left K to deal with the mess. Thank goodness my parents were dropping off some extra chairs and could lend an extra hand. K and my dad took care of the water issue while my mom rinsed my hair with the garden hose. I finished prepping the bird and got it into the oven right on time. We marathoned cleaning the house and setting the table and before you knew it, our first guests had arrived!
Nothing like a little drama before hosting a party! Oh, the joys of home ownership...Having a house full of friends was just what we needed that day.
xoxo,
Alex
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