1. As you prepare, imagine yourself the guest rather than the host. You’ll realize that your guests don’t care what you’re serving or that your house is immaculate; they’re delighted to be invited!

2. Welcome your guests warmly at the door (whether you’re ready for them or not); see them off on the front porch.

3. Straighten up before they come – the rooms they actually will use. Clean after they’ve left.

4. Prepare ahead as much as possible.

5. Work from your strong suits. If you love to prepare homemade soup or pizzas, serve one of those.

6. Create company menus of meals that went together easily and that everyone enjoyed. Then reuse the menu. You won’t have the same guests every time!

7. Set the table the day before if possible. At least gather up all you’ll need, ready to take to the table.

8. Under each dinner plate, or written on the inside of a place card, write a table talk question. If conversation lags, perhaps while you’re waiting for dessert to be served, have people read and answer their table talk question. (See suggested questions at [Link]).

9. Serve one item that is filling, like French bread, in case a guest is really hungry and you may run out of other items.

10. Establish a family code word or gesture, like FHB – Family Hold Back – in case it looks like there might not be enough food to go around.

11. Teach your family members not to complain about what they’re served (to take three “no thank you” bites and leave the rest without comment), and not to ask “is this all there is?”

12. Dish up plates in the kitchen if you’re not sure there’s enough.

13. Appreciate the aroma of a home-cooked meal. Good scents relax people.

14. Simple beverages with dinner are sufficient: water or iced tea, white and/or red wine, decaffeinated coffee.

15. Ask for help from whomever’s comfortable in the kitchen so you can spend time there together.

16. If you need help, by all means graciously ask for it. “Tom, would you please clear the dishes for me?”

17. Start the evening with an empty dishwasher, or at least an empty sink.

Remember that a warm meal and good conversation are simple, valuable gifts that anyone would enjoy, and many people sorely need.