You’re still not sure how it happened, but your turkey day guest list went from intimate to enormous. Before you panic, consider these crowd-control strategies from Diane Phillips, the diva of do-ahead: Have the kids collect golden autumn leaves and hand them out to guests as cocktail coasters. Keep the gravy piping hot as it’s passed (and passed and passed) by filling the gravy boat with boiling water 15 minutes before serving; then swap in the gravy. Use muffin tins to make individual stuffing muffins.

By the time grace rolls around, you’ll have had a gratitude adjustment: More really is merrier.