Tips for holiday entertaining

Dear Heloise: I am hosting my first holiday dinner for family, and I am so nervous. What should I do, basically, to have a good first gathering? — Becky from Texas

Dear Becky: Really there are just three basic keys for a holiday party:

1. The setting. Think about the first impression your guests will have when they come into your home. Are there decorations in the entry? The mood should be an appealing one.

2. The scent. What will your family smell when they enter your house? Candles, cookies baking or fresh holiday greens will do the job.

3. The sound. Put on your favorite holiday music, playing softly in the background.

— Heloise

What your trash reveals

Dear readers:

The holidays are such a hectic time with all of the events and family gatherings.

In the rush of everything, you may toss out lots of things into the trash. Be aware that you could accidentally put personal info into the trash that a criminal could use for identity theft.

So, do not throw into the garage any personal, financial or medical information. Take off labels from medicine bottles before you toss out empty bottles. Shred or cut up copies of your bills. You want to be sure that no one can get your Social Security number or credit card dates or numbers. — Heloise

How to make veggies of fruits last longer

Dear readers: When you bring fruits and vegetables home from the supermarket, it’s really important to store them properly. It’s best to eat them several days after you have brought them home, but if you can’t, here’s how to keep them as fresh as you can:

1. Store vegetables in the refrigerator in perforated plastic bags.

2. Use the crisper drawers to help veggies retain moisture. Adjust the humidity controls in the crisper drawers.

3. Put fruits and veggies in separate drawers, because this will prevent the ethylene gas of fruit from affecting the veggies.

4. Do not place potatoes, onions, tomatoes or garlic in the refrigerator.

— Heloise

Waxy votives

Dear Heloise: I love to put votives on my holiday tables because the light is so wonderful, but getting the wax out is such a pain. Do you have an easier way I can do it? — Lorraine from New York

Dear Lorraine: Here are two ways to remove the wax:

1. Put the votives in a container in the sink and soak in hot water to melt the wax.

2. Or place the holders face down on a heavy paper plate and put on a baking sheet in the oven at 200 degrees F for a couple of minutes. Watch closely. Then use a hot pad to pick up the votives and wipe out the melted wax with a paper towel.

3. Before you return the candles to the holders, put a bit of water in the bottom of each one and then add the candles. This will help to stop the melted wax from sticking. — Heloise

Edible party holders

Dear Heloise: We have lots of children who come to our holiday gatherings, and they can be so messy in eating our holiday treats. How can I prevent them from ending up all over my carpets? — Susan from Louisiana

Dear Susan: Your children and their friends will love this holder for nuts or small treats. Make your regular popcorn ball mix and stick some over the bottoms of glasses that have been greased with butter or margarine. Allow the mixture to harden, and when it is, remove from the glasses and then you can fill them with bite-sized snacks. When done, the children can eat the holder! — Heloise