Crowning the season

Sunset, Dec, 1998 by Linda Lau Anusasananan

* Up to 1 month ahead: Make cranberry aperitif.

* Up to 1 day ahead: Assemble crab appetizers, make bisque, prepare salad ingredients, cook green beans, soak raisins in rum.

* Up to 4 hours ahead: Assemble roast.

* Up to 1 1/2 hours ahead: Cut potatoes.

* About 1 hour ahead: Cook roast and potatoes.

* About 10 minutes ahead: Reheat bisque, boil water to reheat beans.

* About 5 minutes ahead: Assemble salad, heat and season beans, set out crab appetizers, pour aperitifs, slice beef.

* Just before serving dessert: Slice cake and scoop ice cream.