Cooking for a crowd Q Any tips for cooking for a crowd?A Don't expect yourself to do the impossible. Recognize your limitations and create a reasonable game plan. Canadian Living food editor Elizabeth Baird suggests keeping the menu simple and avoiding last-minute fussing. "Make your first course as easy as possible: a soup that just needs a reheat and special garnish, or an upscale salad that all you need to do is plate," she says. "And choose a dessert that can wait in the fridge, one that you can make in advance."For an easy main course, consider boneless roasts, hams, fish fillets, or braised or stewed dishes like coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon. Cooking for a crowd might mean doubling some side dishes. "When doubling any savoury dish, hold back on the salt," says Elizabeth. “Add enough for one recipe, then taste and adjust the salt and other seasonings just before serving." (Seasonings can lose some of their punch as cooking times increase, so do a final taste test and adjust seasonings accordingly before plating the food, even where recipes have not been doubled.)On the dessert front, says Elizabeth, "you can double the servings if you're making pastries, cookies or squares, and your mixing equipment is big enough. But for cakes, it's better to make two batches of batter, especially if your cake pans and oven aren't up to a double batch." Boots, coats, and seating plans Q What are some ways to keep my guests' coats and boots tidy?A The front hall closet is often a repository for odds and ends. But if company's coming, you must declutter. Estelle Gee, professional organizer and director of Orderly Lives, suggests opening up some space in the hall closet by moving all your coats and shoes to a garment rack in the mud room or basement. Then, hang guests' coats in there, instead of upstairs in a distant bedroom."And for a more attractive alternative to a plastic boot tray, try a large aluminum tray filled with gravel or river stones," says Estelle. "The slush from boots and shoes will sink to the bottom of the tray." Canvas shoe organizers aren't just for stashing shoes. Estelle recommends using them to conveniently store guests' gloves, hats and scarves. Q I'm worried I don't have enough space for my family dinner. Also, how do I arrange a seating plan?A Toronto-based event planner Cynthia Martyn, owner and principal event planner of Cynthia Martyn Events, says that for any size table, guests should have at least five inches of space on either side of their dinner plate. "Guests need room to comfortably lift their glasses, use their knives, and generally enjoy their meal," she says. If your table can't accommodate all your guests, rent an extra table of the same height and width. Extend your main table by joining it to the rental. Or opt for a buffet (if you go this route, serve foods that can be easily eaten while standing, like skewer food and tidy bite-size appetizers).Next issue: Who sits where? "If your group knows one another, it's fine to let them seat themselves -- but ask them to alternate the sexes," says Vancouver event planner Heather Baker, owner of Amaryllis Events. "If you're having people over who don't know each other, that's the time to use place cards so you're able to make strategic decisions about who sits where." Similar work backgrounds, hobbies or ages are good places to start -- it will help get the conversation rolling. Whether you go sit-down or buffet, think about renting extra tableware if you suspect you may come up short. Simple white china is an elegant choice. If you use different styles of china at the dinner table, consider renting silver charger plates for each place setting, to create a unifying element. Dietary restrictions and kiddie tables Q Any ideas for accommodating dietary restrictions at a holiday dinner?A Try to find out about dietary restrictions well in advance. If you send out invitations, ask guests to indicate their food concerns (allergies, lactose intolerance, vegetarianism) when they RSVP. They'll be pleased you cared enough to ask. How do you accommodate these guests without vastly increasing your workload? Plan your menu carefully and serve dishes that can easily be adjusted as needed. Sebastien Centner, director of Eatertainment Special Events & Catering, says, "Why not plan something like a smoked duck salad with enoki mushrooms, butter lettuce and champagne vinaigrette; you can make one without the duck and it becomes a vegetarian salad." Sebastien recommends making the "special" dishes look like all the rest. Serving a stacked beef and potato dish? Make a stacked roast veggie entrée to match (it can be done the day before and reheated). And use similar garnishes. "It makes your guests feel like someone has gone to the trouble of making them not stand out."Q How do I approach setting up a kiddie table at my holiday dinner?A "Forget the traditional kitchen kiddie table. Kid-friendly dining does not have to mean a messy, cluttered tabletop," says Cynthia. "Set up a card table near your adult dining area and drape it in the same linens as your main table. To tie the look together, place a miniature version of your holiday table centrepiece on the kids' table." In fact, STYLE AT HOME senior design editor Margot Austin suggests letting the kids eat on the good china, too. "I don't hesitate to use fine china on the kids' table, because it's actually stronger than everyday stoneware, and it resists chips and breaking even more. Plus, Christmas is a magical time for children, so I don't want them to feel like second-class citizens. They get fine china, linen napkins, tablecloths, place cards, Christmas crackers -- the whole nine yards. The one exception is I don't put the Waterford crystal out for them -- not because I'm afraid they'll break it, but because the tall, heavy stemware can be awkward for little hands to manoeuvre." To keep the kids quietly entertained during dinner, Cynthia suggests placing a loot bag of age-appropriate games on each child's chair. And remember, it's OK to impose a few rules. The promise of a special treat if the kids behave throughout dinner might just be incentive enough. Cue up a DVD and have it ready to go in the living or family room, so the kids can retire there to rest (and digest) while enjoying a holiday flick, and the adults can linger at the dining table.