Five things I learned over the holiday weekend:

1. If you serve ham for one person, everybody else will eat it, too!

I personally love turkey. Well I don’t exactly love turkey, which is kind of boring. But I love it as a vehicle to deliver a good dollop of gravy and a spoonful of stuffing. But a few people at my table just don’t like it (Hello, Mom and Dad). For them, I usually make meatballs and lasagna.

This year I bought a honey baked ham instead. It was the first thing to disappear from the table. And it was so easy.

It makes a girl want to skip the turkey altogether next year.

2. A 10-year-old can make gravy.

I don’t know why everyone gets hysterical about making gravy. My niece made it for me while I mashed potatoes next to her. I poured all the drippings from the turkey roasting pan into a measuring cup and removed the fat. She measured out 1/4 cup flour and put it in a saucepan with 1/4 cup of the fat. I turned the heat on low and she whisked it until smooth and kept whisking as I slowly added the drippings (plus enough chicken broth to make it a full 2 cups).

We had gravy within 10 minutes. And no lumps, either.

3. A bowl of cut fruit will always be appreciated.

All hosts go crazy to make elaborate appetizers. But everyone will rave about the fruit. Plus, they will have their hunger satisfied but not feel stuffed before the feast even begins.

4. Don’t make so many pies for dessert.

Someone or some two will bring a pie (pies) that they made or bought and will want to eat.

5. If you offer a brunch crowd Belgian waffles and just about anything else, everyone will take the waffles.

gciampa@projo.com