friends don't let friends thanksgiving alone

If you’ve been invited to a Friendsgiving this year, or you’ve decided to host one, you know you need to bring some food. But what do you bring? In The Friendsgiving Cookbook, Taylor Vance has put together some ideas to bring smiles to your friends’ faces and happiness to their tummies as they skip the family drama to spend time with their found family this holiday season.

This book is broken up into 4 sections, so you can pick out some ideas that feel right. First, there are appetizers to graze on all day. There is a Sharable Spinach Artichoke Dip and Cutesy Crostini that you can take together or separately, Angelic Deviled Eggs, La Mia Familia Meatballs, Hot Girl Shrimp, and Ooey-Gooey Mozzarella Sticks. And if you’re not in the mood to cook, there are several different plates to choose from—a veggie plate, a meat plate, and appetizer plate, and a traditional charcuterie plate.

Then it’s on to Potluck Main Attractions, where you can find something to bring to the table that isn’t a turkey but can compliment the turkey, if the host plans to roast one. There is a Half-Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese that could fool almost anyone, Nostalgic Chicken Tenders, Soy Glazed Salmon, and Go Off, Brisket.

And for those who are more veggie-forward, there are a bunch of vegan sides, including “The Favorite” Parmesan Asparagus, Let’s Get Mashed (potatoes and turnips), Steve Requested Fried Green Beans, Connie’s Corn-y Bread, Roasty-Toasty Brussels, Spaghetti Squash the Haters, and Stuff Your Face Spicy Mushrooms.

Lastly, there are the desserts that will be the last thing your friends remember of the meal. To satisfy the sweet tooth, there is #Blessed Chocolate Bread, Thank You So Matcha Sponge Cake, Aunt Patty’s Pavlovas, Cracking Pumpkin Brulees, Stick Together Orange Upside-Down Cake, and Joke’s on Pie, It’s Carrot Cake. And because dessert itself may not be enough, there are recipes for Coffee Whipped with Love, Homey Hot Cocoa, and the Not Too Much Hot Toddy, Uncle Sal.

Some of these concoctions don’t need a stove or oven at all, but many do need to be cooked. But if you’re one who loves a kitchen gadget, many of these recipes are designed to be made in either an air fryer or a modern pressure cooker. For some you’ll need a food processor.

Because some of these recipes use appliances that take a little experience to use, I can’t recommend this book for people who decide to cook for the first time for Friendsgiving, unless you want to make one of the appetizer boards and start getting ideas for next year’s celebration. But if you have a little experience in the kitchen, you’ll probably be okay with this cookbook. There are some creative ideas for any potluck gathering, and there are always plenty of those this time of year, so The Friendsgiving Cookbook can offer up some fresh ideas, especially for anyone needing ideas for vegan-friendly dishes that pack big flavor.

Egalleys for The Friendsgiving Cookbook were provided by Rock Point through Edelweiss, with many thanks.