Tip 1. Be prepared for holiday baking
At this time of year, most of us bake more to create cookie platters or gifts. The trick is finding the time to do it. Buy the groceries that you'll need (flour, sugar and molasses, butter, eggs, spices, nuts, and whatever you need for your favorite recipes, most of which have long shelf lives) to have on hand. When you have a little free time, whip up a batch of dough. Make decorated cookies in shifts--refrigerate the dough for a day or two; roll, bake, and freeze cookies without their icing; and decorate later. Be sure to have Driscoll’s berries in the freezer to add color and flavor to your holiday treats.

Tip 2. Get ready for impromptu entertaining
Stock up on goodies that are ready to serve when guests drop in, such as cheese, crackers, liquor, nonalcoholic beverages, nuts, frozen pâté. Have a simple appetizer (such as my Mascarpone Dip with Basil Blackberries) that requires just a few ingredients but delivers a "wow" factor. Freeze a batch of beautiful red raspberry sauce for drizzling over ice cream––sprinkle with chopped pistachios and you’ll have a dessert with the colors of the season in a few minutes.

Tip 3. Organize your potlucks
Potlucks are a great way to entertain because they spread the responsibilities around. However, be very specific with your requests for contributions. Don’t request "whatever you want," or you might end up with gallons of store-bought eggnog. Instead, request "potato salad for 20 people" or "gingerbread for 12."

Tip 4. Relaxed entertaining is better than not entertaining at all
The holidays should be about spending quality time with friends and family. If I fear I can’t face putting up the tree without some help, I make a big pot of spaghetti and invite neighbors over for an impromptu tree trimming––this is not a party that I send out invitations for weeks ahead. My other holiday secret weapon is homemade cider, especially Blackberry Cider––-when guests walk through the door and smell that spicy aroma, they will forgive the fact that you didn’t have the time to vacuum.

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