Make caramel sauce and pour over apples. Place foil over apples and place in oven to keep warm until dessert time.
Remove Honey Walnut Tart and Pumpkin Pie from refrigerator.
Just Before Serving
Reheat dinner rolls and place in serving basket. Set on table.
Microwave carrots until heated through. Place on table.
Remove potatoes from oven and place on table.
Other Helpful Hints
If you don't have enough room in your refrigerator for beverages, use an extra countertop or a side table for a beverage station. Set out soft drinks, wine and cocktail mixes along with an ice bucket. Store beer in a cooler set on the floor.
If you have young children, let them help in the preparation. It'll give them something to do and will relieve a bit of the stress. My young son enjoys helping make the potatoes and mixing the pie ingredients. By having him help it keeps him out of my hair.
If you're having more people than your table allows, consider borrowing a long table from relatives or friends or rent one from a rental shop. You can also put two card tables together. Another idea is to have the young kids sit at their own table, but remember to ask the parents if they prefer their child at the main table since some parents like to feed their kids, especially younger ones.
Always have a place setting ready for an unexpected guest. One year my sister-in-law brought her son and didn't inform me ahead of time. It didn't take me long to add one more place setting to the table and no one felt uncomfortable or out of place.
Remember, nothing has to be perfect. Unexpected disasters will happen so just go with the flow. If a dessert doesn't come out, run out to the store for a replacement or better yet, send your significant other. Besides, those little disasters become family legend and lore than can be passed down from generation to generation. This is a party, not a life or death situation. Enjoy yourself and enjoy your company.
