If you’re invited to a Thanksgiving meal somewhere else, what can you bring?

Flowers are a lovely sentiment, but chances are searching for a vase isn’t high on the hosts’ list of last-minute priorities. Instead, send a bouquet the day before or bring a bottle of wine (but don’t insist on drinking it that day).

If you’re asked to bring food, take something that doesn’t need to be warmed, preferably in a dish that doesn’t need to be returned. Or offer to bring something other than pumpkin pie for dessert — anything that can go straight from box to serving plate is ideal. And if you’ve been told the meal is covered, don’t force your favorite sweet-potato casserole on the hosts.