21st Annual Friends Thanksgiving

Our Friends Thanksgiving festivities began two decades ago when our group of friends returned to Minnesota as fresh college graduates and a little bit vegetarian (two friends came back having abandoned the meat-eating customs of their forebearers). It was the first first fancy dinner party post-college and it felt very grownup with mismatched stemware, polished silver and linen napkins. We've yet to miss a year, although the circle of friends expands and we serve cheese, butter and a fish course for the non-vegans. (It still feels ever so slightly very grown up.)

This year we gathered again in the home of our friend whose table comfortably seats ten and we feasted on autumn's harvest. The host and I are both members of Fig to Fork and had tasty mussels and shrimp hanging out in our freezers from this month's deliveries. With the addition of cod, scallops and clams we concocted a delicious cioppino for our main course. Get the recipe here.

2015 Friends Thanksgiving

House Cocktail

Gamle Ode Astrid Projection

Appetizer

Local Cheese Plate

First Course

Sweet Potato Bisque

Herb Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Artichoke and Spinach Stuffed Bread

Main Course

Cioppino

Sabhudana Khichadi (tapioca pearls with potatoes and peanuts)

Dessert

Chocolate Ginger Cake

Chocolate Coconut Sorbet
Coffee