The Woman of Elegance entertains graciously in a relaxed atmosphere because she plans dinner parties that don't require time in the kitchen after her guests have arrived. She wants to enjoy time with her guests. She selects dishes she can prepare in advance - a hearty turkey-ham-Swiss bake or a pasta casserole. Other vegetables can be micro waved in advance and re-heated before serving. Her guests will never see dirty pots and pans stacked in the kitchen sink.

Instead of serving a tossed salad, she places salad greens in a serving and then arranges the other salad items in partitioned serving dishes so guests can choose what they want just like they do at a restaurant salad bar. Small bowls of soy nuts, sunflower seeds, and grated cheese add a nice touch. The Woman of Elegance never puts bottled dressings, ketchup, or mustard on the dining room table. Cruets or small glass bowls set on saucers will draw admiring glances from her guests.

She selects a wine that compliments the main course and may offer a liqueur like Amaretto with coffee after dinner. Desserts don't have to be made homemade or expensive to buy. I serve ice cream and cookies almost exclusively. I scoop ice cream into sherbet glasses and arrange three varieties of cookies around the edge of each glass.

With whatever table linens and dinnerware she has, the elegant woman knows how to embellish her table with carefully selected candles and flow- ers - and she never uses scented candles as it .would throw off the odor and taste of what is being eaten.