A simple how-to from the author of The Friendsgiving Handbook Writer and cook Emily Stephenson has been hosting a Friendsgiving in one form or another for more than a decade. Over the years, the gathering has subtly morphed from a night of mixing-bowl serveware and a crowded-around-one-table vibe into something a bit more organized, a little more uniform, and a lot more comfortable.
Stephenson loves the occasion so much, she wrote a book about it?The Friendsgiving Handbook (Chronicle Books, 2019)?which is packed with hosting strategies, recipes, and other friendly tips to make the night go smoothly, especially if you don?t do this kind of thing regularly.
?I started entertaining first with just the desire to have people over, and now it?s more about making them feel as at home as possible,? Stephenson says, noting that in her previous studio apartment it was more about squeezing people in where she could. ?It?s exciting now that people have a comfortable place to sit when they come over.? To celebrate the festive season, Stephenson invited Curbed over to the two-bedroom apartment she shares with her boyfriend, Amir Andalibi, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, to share her thoughts and tips on how to pull off a Friendsgiving of your own.

Prepping for a party in a small kitchen can seem daunting, but Stephenson advises to not be too precious with stacking dishes on every surface. Simple recipes from her book The Friendsgiving Handbo...