Hello, Friends. Seasons Greetings!

I hope we are all doing well and recovering from our summer's playtime. As Fall approaches, we become more and more aware of the impending Holiday season. As the working weeks drag on, we look towards the next two major holidays on the calendar, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those of us who choose to celebrate other harvest-time and holy events such as Kwaanza and Chanukah also eagerly await the holiday festivities to begin.

We anticipate the holiday celebrations, the rush of Christmas shopping, the meals and the parties of the coming months. I especially enjoy the increase of parade coverage on network television. I can't wait for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the floral masterpieces of the Rose Bowl parade and the local events such as the Santa Claus Parade. The Holidays wouldn't be the same without these traditional, commercial processionals surrounded by cheering crowds.

Other events, not often included in the lists of parades, are the meals served on these special days. The presentation of traditional foods and the throngs of appreciative people are central to our holiday practice.

One could also argue that these private gatherings take just as much organizational effort. The execution of these meals requires just as much planning, marketing and labor as any nationally televised event.

Once again, independent people, such as you and I, push ourselves to our wit's ends trying to cope with personal and public obligations. We labor to "have it all" and "have it now." As a Holiday Parade Commissioner/ Home Chef, I offer some tips to help with your own event coordination no matter how big or daunting.

      Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner: Family Style

1) DELEGATE, DELEGATE, DELEGATE!!!
Remember that the first Thanksgiving was actually a potluck. In this spirit, ask other guests to bring various items so that you can concentrate on your holiday specialties. Remember that when you request your guests to bring something, make sure that you also state how many people are attending. That way, they bring enough for everyone to have a taste.

If you have guests coming that don't cook, ask if they can be a part of the clean-up crew. Its ThanksGIVING, not a GIVEAWAY! Beside, we'll need to do something to burn off those extra million calories.

2) TIRED OF THE SAME OLD BIRD?
With its recent popularity, many people have had enough of the same ole bird. Many just don't like turkey, period.

To help solve this dilemma, remember that the first Thanksgiving was also the first multicultural celebration as well as a festival that featured local produce. Serve wild game or local seafood. Use items found at the local farmers markets, now teeming with multicultural influence, to bring new international flavors to the traditional table.

If you're truly unwilling to abandon the turkey, flavor the bird with different spices. Curries and chutneys pair up excellently with the dark meats of turkey. So do Mexican moles and fresh salsas. Chilies spice up bland white meats. Chinese black-bean pastes and miso also make provocative marinades and rubs. Deep-frying your turkey also provides a new preparation method.

3) CROWD CONTROL ISSUES?
Does Uncle Bob still hold a grudge against Aunt Linda? Remember to use thoughtfully arranged place cards to separate the sensitives.

Or take the meal out of the dining room and into the living room. Make the meal an informal party so that whom ever can gravitate towards their kindred.

Is your car trunk larger than your dining room? You don't have to stay there. If your family loves a good barbecue, well then, hold the festivities outdoors. A little chilly? That's what heat lamps are for.

No dining table? Rent one. Party stores are stocked full of cheap rentals. Or have a Moroccan theme, turn the coffee tables, bookshelves or the floor into your buffet and eat on the floor!

4) DON'T WANT TO COOK?
Ok, although my last article was a diatribe against the commercialization of the food industry, I will admit that you can purchase a passable full course meal from most large grocery stores.

Or buy portions of the meal such as the turkey or the side dishes or the desserts and allow yourself time to concentrate on your specialties.

Or make reservations. Increasing numbers of fine and inexpensive restaurants remain open during the Holidays.

If you just HAVE TO stay at home and if you have the money, you can pay people like me to prepare your dinners for you. Most of us will even deliver the meal to your site, for a nominal charge.

5) DON'T WANT TO CLEAN?
That's totally understandable. Don't want to bring out the Limoges? Open the Chinet!

Oftentimes, the Holidays become that biggest cause for investing in "new" family heirlooms. There's nothing wrong with paper plates. The turkey'll taste the same, trust me.

If you decide to roast the bird, use a roasting bag. With a roasting bag, the clean up is nominal and it decreases the cooking time.

Line every tray either with foil, parchment or waxed paper and use your emollients liberally. This will help prevent any stains from being baked into your pans.

Learn to deglaze your pots and pans. This technique will not only yield bases for wonderful sauces and gravies; it also aids in the cleaning process.

Finally, as I said in my first tip, "Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!!!"

Nothing could be farther from the truth. I understand tradition's importance and impact on our lives. Tradition serves to organize social functions into easily remembered behaviors. Its repetition brings a sense of ceremony that serves to bring people together.

However, traditions need to be kept viable or the principles they uphold are in danger of being abandoned as dated practices. They must be updated. In our compacted, multi-tasking, high paced scheduled worlds, we must take some judicious advantage of our societal and technological developments and incorporates them into our private ceremonies.

I propose that these changes would lead to a simplified, easier and differing experience that will memorably impact your Holidays with less stress and more fun. More time to cherish the people you surround yourself with. More time to honor them with your presence and not just your products.