I think the trick is to do as much ahead of time as possible, stick with fairly simple recipes and have one or two Martha-y touches. And as others have mentioned - decor is a good place for the Martha touches, since you can do that way ahead of time. Mashed potatoes are a great option since they fill up a big bowl on the table, most people eat them and they are a snap to make. Why not use vegetable stock and a bit of roasted garlic instead of dairy products? (I know that chicken stock is the generic substitute for butter with dieters, but I think that vegetable stock has a bit more flavor) I'd serve a simple veggie that can be steamed or blanched at the last minute - broccoli, asparagus, green beans - whatever your family likes. Add a bit of lemon or margarine or olive oil to keep the dairy out. (another big bowl on the table with minimal effort) Fruit salad was a great idea. A green salad would be good too. You should be safe with almost any oil-based dressing. Throw in some star fruit or pluots or something to make it seem fancy shmancy. Breads and rolls were my favorites as a kid - and certainly what I see being snatched up at the kid's table at our family gatherings. Bread doesn't need to contain dairy - you could ask what kind of bread the kids normally eat or call your local bakery. Since they are more likely to use real ingredients rather than chemicals, they'll be able to tell you what's safe. Or if wanted to be kind of Martha, you could make your own bread - not a big deal if you have a bread maker or make the dough the day before and slow the rise in your fridge until the day of the party. You've got pies coming. If you want another dessert, there is a great recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that the kiddos would like in The Garden of Vegan. Vegan or kosher recipes are good ways to keep the dairy out. A veggie tray or hummus and pita bread or some spiced nuts are super easy things for guests to nibble on until dinner is ready. I think we forget how delicious things can be with simpler flavors or just a few ingredients. If you fill your menu with stuff like that, you will have more time for one or two knock your socks off details and more time to spend with your guests.

LOL Glenda is that at a fair grounds??? Have you eaten it I would love to have that~~ We have soup from my last nights experiment of making mixed bean/ham soup~~~it was good:)So it is on for tonight too. I was excited it was good last time I tried it tasted like water soup no taste at all.

I would like that soup recipe, also. Even though it's 90 degrees outside, I still like soup sometimes. (Sorry, Nodakgal--has your weather improved any?) Joann, housework had running hither and yon has seriously cut into my 'puter time. By the time I check in at MH and read the "Evening Post" it's time to go do something! After I cooked the potatoes and onions in one pan and the sliced smoked sausage in another, I put the meat in with the potatoes and covered it with cheese and put a lid on it until the cheese melted. Boy, was that good!

I was out and about this afternoon. Decided to just go through Wendy's drive-thru for a baked potato and small chili. Shirley