The Thanksgiving Menu For Friends Who Share

This year, why not go Dutch? Of course, the Dutch don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but revel in the classic Dutch etiquette of paying for ones own meal (even if on a date). If you are anything like my friends and I in college, we loved cooking our own Thanksgiving style meal before heading home for the holidays. We would each bring something to the table, cook in our own kitchens, and congregate in the living room for a feast. If you are looking to do the same this year, “go Dutch” and create a menu with your clan that requires each person to buy the ingredients for, and cook, one Thanksgiving dish of their choosing. This is also called a potluck, but for our purposes here, it’s going Dutch! This is a great way to get together with old or new friends and celebrate (and drinking multiple bottles of wine here is more acceptable than at your family Thanksgiving table, obviously). It’s also “wallet-friendly” and will allow you to just sit around, relax, eat and enjoy each others company. Sometimes dining at restaurants prohibits real conversation from flowing.

Here’s a menu I’ve put together via Pinterest recipes that would be great for a Thanksgiving gathering on a budget. You can decide who cooks what! I know this is something my friends and I would be salivating over.

1. The Turkey

There are several options for this. Obviously, a big bird is really expensive. Try buying a small bird, or even just a breast, (preferably under 12 pounds) and using this parchment paper recipe. Your turkey will be juicy and there will be just enough for everyone to have a few small slices. After all, who really eats THAT much turkey? It’s all about the side dishes 🙂 Don’t forget the gravy!

2. The Stuffing

OK, this is seriously my favorite. This year, instead of making a huge pan of stuffing, make it in muffin tins!! In the oven, each “stuffin muffin” will have its own crispy outer layer (yum). This is also a great way to make sure everyone gets an equal amount (but obviously make some extra!!). And, for those of us who tend to overeat on Thanksgiving, this is a great way to stick with a single serving. These will be a hit with everyone, guaranteed. As for the recipe, try an apple and sage stuffing.

3. The Mashed Potatoes

I feel obligated to make these traditional Thanksgiving potatoes have a slightly Dutch twist. Instead of the usual potatoes, salt, pepper, butter, and milk, why not add a little something to give it some color (and flavor)? Load these babies up with some carrots, chives, or spinach. I mean, everyone combines the food on their plate during Thanksgiving anyway. There’s just not enough room on your plate!

4. The Vegetable

The vegetable is mandatory on the Thanksgiving plate. It needs that little bit of color. I’d recommend trying this gorgeous roasted beets and carrots dish. They are slow-roasted in the oven with olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and lots of fresh rosemary. The beets and carrots will roast into a beautiful orange/red color. This is simple, fast and easy!

5. The Cranberry Sauce

The apple cranberry recipe I have here is a tangy and delicious twist on the typical out-of-a-can cranberry sauce. This is a typical Thanksgiving dish, but this recipe will have people ACTUALLY wanting to eat it rather than feeling obligated to put a little on their plate.

6.That Random Extra Side Dish That Nobody Needs But Eats Anyway

This can be anything, really. Everyone is already full to the brim, but this extra side dish will be consumed anyway. Although this is usually a sweet potato/marshmallow or green bean casserole, let’s try to be unique this year. Save this dish for the friend who loves to cook and experiment with new recipes. Below, you’ll see sweet potato and caramelized onion shells. This combines your typical sweet potatoes with a little Italian flare.

7. The Dessert

Usually this would be an apple or pumpkin pie. Here we’ll try something a little different, but if the friend in charge of dessert doesn’t want to make the effort, a pumpkin pie with whipped cream or warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream will ALWAYS suffice. Below you’ll find a combination of pumpkin and chocolate in the form of swirl brownies! For me, dessert should always include chocolate, so this recipe is a perfect compromise between my choco-obsession and Thanksgiving tradition.