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I don’t know about you but friends are pretty much family in my book…okay, maybe not everyone on my friends list but true friends. Those friends, those are the people I have chosen to be in my tribe and in my family. During some trying years with my “real” family, I really needed those friends, they helped me through some craziness that most people wouldn’t believe, they lifted me up, they supported me and they stuck around through the crazy.
Often when we think about Thanksgiving, you immediately think family, I think that is pretty normal for most. But a new tradition has been popping up through out my circles and that is Friendsgiving. I am so incredibly thankful for my friends so why not take the time before the busy season of holidays hit and enjoy those friendships over some yummy food, great conversations and fun? Friendsgiving should have been invented LONG ago! I love it!
So, how do we spice up this tradition I am so excited to be implementing into our plans this holiday season? We throw a Friendsgiving but with a fiesta taco night style! Yes! Tacos for everyone!!
How to Host a Friendsgiving – Fiesta Taco Night
One reason I think we often put off getting together with our friends is the time it takes to prepare a meal for a larger group. Think we can agree on that? Well, let me add…cleaning house. Please, you think my house always looks as good as it does when I have planned company over! ha! Who do you think we are? So, once we have the house cleaning under control, it is time to focus on that menu.
TACO me friends! Tacos have been the talk of the town for years now. Who doesn’t love a good Taco Tuesday or Taco Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday….you get the idea. I will never forget when I finally figured out that tacos were life. Jude’s 4th birthday party, it was a hot sunny Saturday and we decided to throw a Taco bar party for our growing guy. People’s heads exploded when they saw what we were feeding them. IF YOU BUILD A TACO BAR, THEY WILL LOVE YOU!
Maybe you have figured it out by now but our Friendsgiving is going against all Thanksgiving meal traditions and moving towards a fun afternoon fiesta with friends…and tacos. To create this fun event, I needed to find a way not to be slaving over preparing meat and veggies for our taco fillings. That is when I got a great idea to pick up some of the Frontera® products inspired by Chef Rick Bayless.
Have you tried the Frontera® products yet? Add them all to your shopping list this week. Frontera® uses real ingredients in all of their items. Seriously, you can read every ingredient on their ingredient lists. But not only do I know what my guests are enjoying at dinner but they are delicious dishes.
For our Taco fiesta I picked up some of the Frontera® Skillets; specifically the Frontera® Chicken Taco Skillet and the Frontera® Carnitas Taco skillet. Each skillet cooks in just a few minutes on the stove top. Once cooked, I was able to easily serve our guests.
The Chicken Taco Skillet is filled with roasted tomatoes and garlic crushed with smoky chipotles paired flawlessly with grilled chicken in this traditional Mexican favorite. And the Carnitas Taco Skillet is filled with golden, succulent, slow-cooked pork with tangy tomatillos and roasted poblano chiles! All of the items we tried have been amazing. They taste like the Mexican cuisine that we enjoy when dining out.
Now that I had the taco filling figured out, I knew that my friends would be asking what they could bring…because that’s what we do! Here is the best part about hosting a taco night for Friendsgiving. You get to delegate the rest of the meal! Seriously! Have your friends bring the taco shells, tortillas, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, dessert…you get the idea. See, hosting a big dinner doesn’t have to be stressful!
In addition to our Frontera® skillets I decided to make one of my favorite salsas to pair with our tacos. This Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Salsa is not only super easy to prepare but it goes great with tortilla chips or topped on your taco. I always prepare this salsa a day before I need it for our meal. It always tastes WAY better after is chills for a bit.
Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Salsa
Free printable recipe here.
Ingredients:
20 oz pineapple tidbits, drained
4 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
Juice from 1 lime
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
Directions:
1. Prepare all ingredients as directed in ingredient list.
2. Combine pineapple, onion, tomatoes and jalapeno in a medium bowl. Mix well.
3. Add juice from lime to ingredients and mix well.
4. Let salsa chill overnight in the refrigerator.
5. When ready to enjoy, add the chopped cilantro to the bowl and carefully mix.
6. Transfer salsa to serving dish and enjoy with chips or on your Mexican dishes.
This salsa is so colorful and fresh. It goes great with any of the Frontera® skillets.
To add a little fiesta fun to your Friendsgiving, make sure you use colorful dishes, napkins and props. Think outside the box a little and keep some fresh veggies on the serving table. It is really amazing how some fresh colorful veggies can really add to to the foodie atmosphere of the event. Beautiful tomatoes, colorful peppers and some onions for some texture will have your guests asking for more hosting tips!
There you have it! Simple steps to creating a perfect Friendsgiving – Fiesta Taco Night Style! So easy and so stress free. Time to enjoy that meal and be thankful for that tribe you have built.
Frontera® Skillets are only available currently in Colorado, Minnesota & Illinois
Now that I have tried the Frontera® products found at Target I am so excited to try more dishes using their sauces and seasonings. Like I said…tacos are life but so are enchiladas, fajitas, rice bowls, tamales, and chili! So many meal ideas I cannot wait to try with these premium sauces, seasonings, salsas and skillets.
As you prepare you next party with friends, make sure you bring some of Frontera® Skillets home, they are at the frozen meal aisle. If you need salsas, spices or sauces for your meal you can also pick up those products from Frontera® as well. They have you covered! Make sure you take advantage of the 25% off Cartwheel offer from Target.
Which Frontera® product are you most excited to enjoy for your favorite Mexican meal at home?
I love Frontera products as well and have been using them for years. I agree with having friends over more often and connecting. I think once we all have children, their schedules seem to usurp ours!
I would love to have my friends over in the next coming weeks and just slow down and eat good food and chat. The holidays get busy and some of the best moments are made when making memories with people we enjoy being around. I want to pick up a bag of the Chicken Fajita skillet next time I'm at Target. Thanks for sharing! #client
What fun! I would love to host a Friendsgiving! I have not seen Frontera in my stores yet but will look for it next time I am at one! Your recipe looks soooo yummy!
Friendsgiving is a thing! I've always said friends are the family we get to choose ourselves, so there you go! Hope you enjoyed your taco night:)
Let me just say your spicy pineapple sauce looks delicious.Also I am loving the idea of celebrating friendsgiving. And with tacos (and margaritas) even better. I cannot wait to put together a gathering with friends and "copy" your idea. Party is ON.
I like the idea of FRIENDSgiving – after all, our friends are pretty much like our second family. I think it's great that hosting Friendsgiving also allows you to go all out and make these special people feel extra special. I have to try your recipe though – I'm sure it will be a huge hit!
Oh my gidh, this looks like fun, and your food looks amazing. I love tacos and pineapple salsa is my favorite.
A friendsgiving looks like so much fun! It's too late for me to plan something like that this year, but next year…it's on! The pineapple salsa looks amazing.
What a fun idea for a party! We already had Thanksgiving here in Canada but I suppose technically we could have a Friendsgiving anytime we want! And to do it with a taco night would be just the right thing for my friends.
Oh my goodness, one can never go wrong with tacos! I am in love with it and thanks for this idea. The event looks so amazing and fun by the way!
I totally agree with you that friends are like family. I moved to Alaska without any family members. I quickly realized how important it was to cultivate new friendships quickly. Hosting a taco night is a great way to get everyone together. I've had a few of these and I just love the moments we share together.
What a great idea, and Everyone loves Tacos, It looks like you had a ton of Fun.