Granted, when we think of holiday gatherings, most of us envision a table loaded with all the traditional fare--the center piece being a golden turkey, roasted to perfection or perhaps a succulent, honey-baked ham. In reality, though, times have changed. There's less expectation today for your meals to revolve around meat, so when you're creating a picture-perfect event, keep this in mind. Not to foray down the road of political correctness, but as the family cooks, we really do need to be a little more sensitive to our guests' palates (if your family is anything like my family, that is). So how do we handle our vegetarian friend?

First, take a good look at the menu you've already planned. Chances are you really only need to make a few minor adjustments, especially if you get a little information beforehand. There are varying degrees of vegetarianism, and quite a few vegetarians do include eggs and dairy products in their diets (so ask!). Isn't it a relief to know that you can still load your mashed potatoes with butter and cream? Also, if you're cooking a turkey, baking some or all of the stuffing outside the bird will allow your vegetarian guest to have some too, so long as there's no meat in it, that is. A nice mushroom gravy would be the perfect complement for your turkey and potatoes.