Thanksgiving is changing. It's still one of America's most cherished holidays--with 91% of adults planning to celebrate--but how we celebrate is evolving. Nearly one in five people now host a Friendsgiving, choosing relaxed gatherings over long hours in the kitchen. People are looking for connection, not complexity--and that's where Friesgiving comes in. It's all about celebrating togetherness with something everyone already loves: fries. McCain , the maker of one in four french fries worldwide, introduces the ultimate Thanksgiving hack: Friesgiving. This new twist on Thanksgiving tradition brings people together with fries as the centerpiece. Friesgiving is an easy way to use leftovers to make crowd-pleasing dishes. To celebrate, here are some delicious fry dishes. First up, Loaded Herb Fries which just scream holiday comfort. We start with McCain Quick Cook Waffle Fries, which are the perfect canvas for turning leftovers into craveable dishes, and they get perfectly crispy in minutes. Toss them with a mix of rosemary, sage, and thyme for that classic Thanksgiving flavor. Layer them with creamy, melted brie and serve with two simple sauces: a tangy cranberry ketchup and a savory gravy mayo. It's cozy, flavorful, and a stress-free way to bring all those Thanksgiving favorites together. Next, a fun spin on the traditional charcuterie board, because who doesn't love having a Fry Board at the table. It features a mix of McCain fries: classic Smiles , NEW savory Garlic & Herb , and golden Sweet Potato Crinkle Cut . Make sure to add plenty of toppings and pairings--like cheeses, fresh fruit, savory meats and dipping sauces--so there's a little something for everyone. The cranberry ketchup and gravy mayo from our loaded fries recipe also make great additions to this dish. This interactive Fry Board gets everyone gathered around the table. Some of our other favorite holiday hosting tips? First, set your menu. Cooking can be the most complicated part of the holidays, and setting yourself up for success in the kitchen takes little effort that will go a long way. Use leftover herbs by incorporating them into your dishes, like in the Loaded Fries recipe. Don't forget to stock your pantry. We often focus on the specialty ingredients on our shopping lists during the holidays and forget to check to see if the everyday items we use across recipes are stocked and ready. Make sure to read from start to finish any recipe you plan to cook. Hosting is much less stressful when you feel confident in your plan, so get to know your recipes. Serve a mix of room temperature, warm and hot items so that you don't have to worry about pulling everything from the oven at once. Set out the items you'll use to serve so they're ready for plating as each dish is done, and tidy up along the way throughout your Friendsgiving party to make clean up a million times easier. Lastly, be present with your guests. Welcoming them into your house and encouraging them to enjoy each other's company is much easier when you aren't stressed in the kitchen. If you follow all these tips above you'll be the hostess with the mostess. Head to McCainFoodsUSA.com/Friesgiving for these recipes and more--and visit your local grocery store's freezer aisle to grab your favorite McCain fries for your own Friesgiving celebration.
00:00Hi, I'm Dan Pelosi. I'm a cookbook author, food creator, and huge fan of Thanksgiving.
00:12First of all, I love Thanksgiving so much, and it's one of America's favorite holidays as well.
00:17But you know, with all the hustle and bustle of the season,
00:20people are looking for more casual celebrations, like Friendsgiving.
00:24That's why I'm excited to partner with McCain,
00:26who are the makers of one in four french fries worldwide, on Friesgiving,
00:31the ultimate hack to celebrate with no fuss and more togetherness.
00:35I've created these delicious loaded herb fries.
00:39I'm using McCain's Quick Cook Waffle Fries as the base.
00:43These are the perfect, crispy, sturdy fries that cook up in minutes,
00:47that allow you to load all of your favorite leftovers on top.
00:50I start with a mix of leftover herbs.
00:52I've always got sage, rosemary, thyme on hand.
00:56I chop it up, and as soon as it hits those hot, crispy fries, it smells incredible.
01:00Then I love tossing some chunks of brie on top, throwing it in the oven, letting it melt.
01:04Then while it's doing that, I toss together some leftover ketchup with cranberry sauce for a tangy dip.
01:09And then I mix together some leftover mayo with some leftover gravy for a really creamy, savory dip.
01:17So delicious, such a fun way to create a really craveable dish for your holiday table.
01:23Now, over here, I have a fry board.
01:26That's right, fry board, which is a really fun twist on the classic charcuterie board.
01:31I'm using three of my favorite McCain fries.
01:33I've got their new garlic and herb fry, which are truly restaurant quality, so savory, so delicious.
01:39I've got their sweet potato crinkle fries, which are sweet and creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside.
01:44You're going to love them.
01:45And then the happiest fry in America, McCain smiles.
01:50These are all over this board with their charcuterie friends.
01:53So they've got cheese, meat, fruit, and lots of dipping sauces.
01:58Oh, and some nuts as well.
01:59You can even toss my dipping sauces on this board and everyone will be happy.
02:03People of all ages.
02:05I mean, I think your number one goal as a host is to be present and to make sure that you're not stressed out doing all the food things while people are walking through the door.
02:13And that just takes a bit of planning.
02:15So you have to remember, get ahead of your menu, plan it maybe a week out.
02:20You want to check your pantry for all of your ingredients.
02:22Make sure you have all the basics.
02:23You don't want to run out of things.
02:24You just assume you have an endless supply of.
02:27Plus, please read your recipes a few times.
02:31Those kind of recipe surprises that pop in last minute can really take you off track to being the hostess with the mostest.
02:38You're going to want to head to McCainFoodsUSA.com slash friesgiving for ideas and recipes.
02:44And of course, head to the freezer aisle of your local grocery store to stock up on all the McCain fries you need to celebrate Friesgiving with your friends and family.
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