Labor Day Entertaining

With Labor Day just around the corner, I couldn't rightly go into the weekend without providing you with just a few tips to make your holiday entertaining a great success. (My cookbook - CELEBRATE: Food for Life's Special Occasions - is, after all, a book about holiday entertaining, including Labor Day.) So, here we go:

• Always make sure your mussels, clams, and crabs are well scrubbed. Nothing ruins that Labor Day clambake more than sandy clams.
  
  
• Don't forget to provide some form of entertainment for any children who might be attending your holiday party. Beach balls, kites, and even a greased-up piglet will entertain the children for hours.
  
  
• Stock up on beer, ketchup, and toilet paper.
  
  
• If you are a guest of a Labor Day party, be sure to bring your host/hostess a small gift, to thank him/her for inviting you. Beer, ketchup, and toilet paper make great and practical gifts.
  
  
• And finally, if you are playing the part of The Bride this holiday weekend, be sure to dress appropriately. (This is particularly true if you are marrying somewhere along the Eastern Seaboard.) A pair of shorts, long johns, or even a wetsuit worn underneath your wedding dress can help avoid that embarrassing moment when Hurricane Earl's strong winds blow your dress up around your head.

Now that you know the basics of Labor Day entertaining, enjoy your weekend. I'll see you back here on Tuesday.