Ashley Benson has two goals this Thanksgiving: Host her own Friendsgiving party -- and donate 1 million meals to people in need. Right now, the second option's seeming a lot likelier.
"I barely cook—I'm really bad at cooking," the Pretty Little Liars star confesses. "I can make deviled eggs, maybe, but that's about it."
Though she's quick to admit she's not known for her culinary skills (and, to be fair, she's not a chef, nor does she play one on TV), the actress decided to co-host a party with friends, and she's tackling all of the key dishes: stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and the turkey itself. That can be a lot of pressure on a first-time cook, and while she's up to the challenge, Benson's got a back-up plan.
"I'll probably buy a cooked turkey—and maybe anything else I'm afraid I'll mess up—and if they don't turn out right, I'll put out the [store-bought] stuff and pretend I made it," she laughs.
Benson's not shy about her track record—"I almost burned my face off once!"—which is why her loftier goal seems all the more realistic. She's teamed up with Unilever, posting #TBT photos with the hashtag #ShareAMeal. For every photo posted (or retweeted, shared or liked) using the tag, the brand will donate a meal to someone in need, now through Nov. 27.
As she gears up to tackle both challenges, she chatted with us about that chicken-grilling disaster, her all-time favorite foods -- and the one treat she eats pretty much every day on the PLL set.
She's Totally Honest About Her Cooking Misadventures.
So, about that chicken-grilling fiasco. It's without a doubt her biggest cooking fail, she says, and one that made her avoid cooking chicken for a while.
"I was cooking frozen chicken on a pan in my house, and as I was trying to roll the oil around, the pan caught on fire," she explains. "My hair—my whole face—almost got burned. It was so scary."
She's Eaten This Almost Every Day for the Past 7 Years.
Benson's favorite treat on the Pretty Little Liars set has become so routine it's practically tradition. In fact, she can count on one hand the number of times she hasn't started the day—or taken a mid-day break—with a donut. Specifically, the chocolate cake variety with chocolate frosting. Or a chocolate bar donut. But really, she'll take any donut.
"I haven't had one maybe three times in the past seven years," Benson says. "I have a serious sweet tooth."
She's Got a Serious Weakness for Cheeseburgers.
Donut aside, Benson tries to eat healthy—for the most part. "I love cheeseburgers, tacos, pizza, pasta—all the things that are kind of bad for you," she says. She'll indulge from time to time (her top burger? In-n-Out or Shake Shack, just don't make her choose between them). Here's what that typically looks like:
- Breakfast: A hard-boiled egg with iced coffee and a splash of half and half
- Lunch: Salad (or a cheeseburger)
- Dinner: Fish ("If I'm trying to be healthy," she says. "Otherwise, probably a cheeseburger.")
Her Favorite Thanksgiving Memory Involves Fake Poop.
For many people, Turkey Day is all about the food, but for Benson, her favorite part of the day is seeing how her grandmother will prank her family next.
"My grandmother loves to bring fake dog poop with her and hide it in different places around the house and watch people find it and freak out," she says. "She's such a prankster. I guess that's where I get it from."
Lesson learned: If you want to win Thanksgiving—and you're not into cooking—bring the gift that keeps on giving. Fake dog poop.
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