According to Merriam-Webster, the word “Friendsgiving” didn’t show up until 2007, when it was first used in Usenet Twitter posts. The online resource went even further to point out that “It’s worth noting that while the TV show ‘Friends’ featured Thanksgiving episodes where the titular friends ate together, the word did not originate with the show.”
OK, whatever, Merriam-Webster. If we fans want to pay homage to “Friends” for giving us this alternative holiday to Thanksgiving, then we sure the heck can. Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Joey, Monica and Phoebe showed the world over 10 Thanksgiving celebrations in a row that it’s totally OK to share this special holiday with people who really feel more like family than friends. In our opinion, the cast paved the way for the Friendsgiving celebrations that followed, even if our favorite “Friends” squad didn’t call it that at the time.
Here are some food brands that are helping all the friends of the world celebrate Friendsgiving this year:
Lay’s Friendsgiving Side Dish
Since Lay’s potato chips are made from real potatoes, making this potato chip side dish is a breeze. Matt James, former star of The Bachelor (season 25), offers step-by-step instructions for how to recreate this recipe.
Plus, from now through Nov. 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET, enter for a chance to win your own Lay’s Potato Chip to Potato Dish with Matt James cookbook kit featuring a limited-edition bag and an original Lay’s mashed potatoes recipe. Head over to @Lay’s Instagram page to find out how to enter.
Green Giant Friendsgiving Feast
The Green Giant brand is gathering its mascots for a festive Friendsgiving meal. Sharing each mascot’s holiday recipe, Green Giant has combined them into a free digital cookbook, which is available now to download.
Some of the free recipes include:
- Green Giant® Green Bean Casserole
- Little Green Sprout® Corn Casserole
- Mr. Peanut® Mascot’s Rosemary Spiced Nuts
- Ernie’s Fudge Stripes Pie
- Charlie’s® E.V.O.O.® Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil Charcuterie Board
- Mini Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheerios
Cereal Bites by Buzz Bee - Rainbow Lucky Charms Frosted Cookie Bars by Lucky the Leprechaun
- Cranberry-Cream Cheese Crescent Bites by Poppin’ Fresh the Pillsbury Doughboy
Green Giant has also pledged a donation to No Kid Hungry to ensure kids in the U.S. have access to three healthy meals a day. For every Friendsgiving sign-up between Nov. 8 and Nov. 30, Green Giant will donate $1 (minimum of $25,000 and maximum of $35,000) that provides 10 meals.
Nestle Toll House Cookie Shots
Just in time for Friendsgiving gatherings, cookie swaps and holiday parties, from now through Dec. 8, Nestle Toll House lovers can enter for a chance to win a Nestle Toll House Cookie Shot Kit. Each one comes with cookie dough, morsels, a baking mold, and a $25 gift card to purchase a beverage of your choice for customizing the cookie shot.
KFC Holiday Buckets and Merch
From Friendsgiving to Thanksgiving, KFC never lets you down. For the holidays, the experts for all things chicken have a new limited-edition “Secret Recipe of Joy” holiday bucket design starting Nov. 12 that will include the popular $20 Fill Up Box. KFC also has a new line of KFC Shop merch inspired by the “Secret Recipe of Joy” holiday bucket that’s available right now and includes sweaters, hoodies, hats, bags and more, plus a special KFC gravy-inspired shirt for Friendsgiving.
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