Timetable Continued..

In This Article: • The Menu • The Table • Thanksgiving Entertaining Timeline • Create a Mood

The Party: A Guide to Adventurous Entertaining In "The Party", Sally Quinn turns her trademark sharp wit on the Washington social scene and offers an irreverent look at what goes on at the parties you read about in the columns. From seating debacles to real-life scandals, she reveals her firsthand experiences as a member of the Washington power elite to illustrate how to entertain for any occasion.

The Morning Of (at least 7 hours before)

• Prepare the Candied Yam and Marshmallow Casserole but do not cook the marshmallows; refrigerate.

• Boil the pearl onions, peel and store in cold water at room temperature.

• Bake the the biscuits, cool and wrap in foil.

• Remove honey butter from refrigerator and store at room temperature.

• Remove Apple Strudel from refrigerator and slice; arrange on serving plate; sprinkle with powdered sugar, tightly cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and set on dessert table or set aside.

• Clean your bathroom.

• Add crystal to table if you haven't already.

5-1/2 hours Before Serving

• Roast Turkey

20 minutes Before Guests Arrive

• Place Cinnamon Sugared Nuts out for guests.

• When guests arrive, microwave Tiny Cheese Biscuits or bake in a aluminum covered dish for 20 minutes before serving.

• If you're serving dips and chips this is the time to set it out.

• Spray house with holiday scented spray or light scented candles or potpourri.

• Add coffee to coffee pot.

When Turkey is Done (25 minutes before serving)

• Remove turkey from oven place on serving platter. Cover with foil to keep warm.

• Make the gravy.

• Bake the Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

• Cook the Golden Creamed Onions.

• Unmold Cranberry Salad

Just Before Serving

• Reheat biscuits and place in serving basket. Set on table with honey butter.

• Top yams with marshmallows and broil until browned.

• Reheat Classic Bread stuffing and serve.

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.