By Bella Stryker
The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping and suddenly you have four midterms this week — welcome to November! As you slowly realize you’re absolutely cooked in your classes, there’s one more thing cooking on your mind: Thanksgiving. And between learning to prepare a turkey or making a last-minute academic comeback in statistics, well… the turkey might just be the more realistic option.
Since the college experience isn’t complete without the hodgepodge of a Friendsgiving, here are some of the best recipes to bring. (Don’t worry – nobody is actually cooking a turkey. Y’all should just pick up a pre-carved platter from Central Market or Eatzi’s.)
For the host:
Since you are already responsible enough to be the planner of the group, you are probably in charge of the mac and cheese. Easily the most important dish of Thanksgiving, you can’t mess this up. After @tinekeyounger’s mac and cheese recipe went viral last year, it’s the clear leader for best recipe. Make sure to grab the cavatappi pasta for the dish ASAP since last year her loyal followers sold it out a whole week before Thanksgiving.
For the almond children:
Let’s step up the salad game. If you feel like being lazy, a sheet-pan vegetable roast is the way to go, but if you are feeling fancy, maybe upgrade the salad with homemade dressing. Any of the recipes from @thesaladlab on TikTok are phenomenal and might just turn your friends into almond children too.
For the party starters:
Let’s mix it up from the traditional wine or espresso martini. Try a fall-inspired batch cocktail, like this apple cider margarita or a cranberry moscow mule. You can even make them super aesthetic with sugar rims and cute garnishes.
For the bakers:
I know this is your event of the year. If you’re not already bringing your grandma’s totally famous pumpkin pie, maybe consider an apple dish for the non-pumpkin fanatics. An apple crumble with vanilla ice cream is always an easy yet delicious choice.
For the last-minute crowd:
Do everyone a favor and skip the store-bought cookies from Target. For my car-less friends (and those still in the dorms), JD’s Chippery is a classic and a quick trip from campus. This year they’re offering the cutest Thanksgiving cake — you can order one online. Another great last-minute option is the seasonal sides at Central Market. If you just throw them into another container and pretend they’re homemade… no one will know (right?).
