It takes more than great food to have a successful holiday. Here are quick fixes for common challenges—from keeping the kids entertained to getting out of your post-meal stupor
James Merrell
3 Strategies to Stop Aunt Sadie from Bringing Her Creamed Onions (Again)
“Tell her, ‘I would love it if you made your sweet potatoes this year, because it’s one of my favorite dishes,’ ” suggests Lara Shriftman, coauthor of
Party Confidential: New Etiquette for Fabulous Entertaining (St. Martin’s Press, $25).
“Give her a task of honor,” says Allana Baroni, author of Flirtini: A Guide to Mixing and Mingling (Clarkson Potter, $17). “Ask her to bring wine, Champagne, or the ingredients for a special cocktail, and tell her you would be honored if she said a few words to express everyone’s gratitude.”
“Ask for her help with a different sort of job,” says Baroni. “Let her know you have the menu under control, but this year you could really use her advice on table decor.”
...Or simply give in. “Sometimes those bad dishes become very memorable,” says Amy Dickinson, author of the syndicated advice column Ask Amy. “When you look back, they can be a source of laughter and joy.”
