When you are planning a party or gathering with friends, food is often at its center! What better recipes to turn to than those found in the F.R.I.E.N.D.S party recipe booklet?
Recipes are from Cooking with Friends by Amy Lyles Wilson with recipes by Jack Bishop
Monica’s Meat Lasagna
Monica Geller is the professional chef of the group. Her lasagna is referenced throughout the ten seasons of F.R.I.E.N.D.S and is loved by all!
Herbed Meatballs
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- ⅓ cup minced fresh basil or parsley leaves
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano cheese
- ½ cup plain bread crumbs
- 1-1.5 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Olive oil for frying
Lasagna
- 3 cups tomato sauce
- 18 dried lasagna noodles
- 1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese or pecorino Romano cheese
Instructions
- Mix all meatball ingredients together well
- Heat ¼ inch of oil in skillet
- Form mixture into small balls
- Carefully place formed meatballs into hot oil in skillet
- Repeat until skillet is relatively full
- Fry meatballs, turning once or twice until browned
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer meatballs from skillet to paper town lined platter
- Repeat, add more oil if needed
- Add cooked meatballs to sauce and heat through for several minutes
- Cook noodles in salted boiling water until al dente
- Drain and refresh in a bowl of cold water then drain again
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Grease 13×9 baking dish
- Pour even layer of sauce on bottom of dish (no meatballs)
- Top with a layer of noodles
- Spread ¾ cup sauce and meatballs evenly over noodles with ⅔ cup mozzarella cheese and 2.5 tablespoons Parmesan
- Repeat until all layers are even and ingredients incorporated
- Final layer, cover the pasta with remaining cup of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle remaining Parmesan
- Bake until cheese bubbles and turns golden brown (20-25 minutes)
- Rest for 5 minutes and serve
Central Perk’s Caffe Latte
Central Perk is one of the main locations the friends gather throughout the series. This coffee shop is a staple for the group and is their main source of caffeine!
- 1 ½ ounces brewed espresso
- Sugar
- 6 ounces cold milk
- Ground cinnamon or cocoa, optional
Instructions
- Prepare a single espresso and pour it into a warmed 10-ounce bowl-shaped cup or 10-ounce glass
- Stir in sugar to taste
- Pour the milk into a small metal pitcher and steam until hot. Do not let milk become frothy or foamy
- Pour the steamed milk into the cup with the espresso
- Sprinkle with cinnamon or cocoa
- Serve
Ugly Naked Guy Nacho Chips
A whimsical and yet invisible character of F.R.I.E.N.D.S is the ugly naked guy that lives in the building across the street from Monica and Rachel’s apartment. He is referenced in many of the episodes and is always comfortable naked in his home.
- 18 6-inch yellow or blue tortillas (usually found in the refrigerated case at the supermarket)
- Nonstick vegetable oil spray
- Salt
- Cheese dip or other dip of choice, optional
- Toppings such as jalapeno slices, bacon bits, or melted cheese also optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Cut tortillas into 8 wedges
- Generously spray 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray
- Spread tortillas evenly on the sheets, making sure they do not overlap
- Sprinkle with salt to taste
- Bake until crisp 5-10 minutes
- Cool before transferring to a serving basket
- Serve with dip of choice or topped with ingredients of choice
While the stars of the hit 90’s sitcom were not the actual chefs behind these delicious recipes, they do add a feeling of nostalgia and warmth to any fan of the show! Make these recipes to share the next time you host your friends!
