Tabletops That Create Conversation and Memories

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 03:06:00 +0000

IS IT BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS YET?

Christmas is upon us and I love creating tabletops that help everyone get into the spirit of the season. Adding simple things that you have around your home, in your decorations stash or from your yard will make your design unique. Using items that have special meaning to you and your family will be long remembered in their minds as well as in your photos. Tule, feathers, Christmas balls, a nativity, artificial or real fruit, candles, greenery, small Christmas trees made of various materials, small "crystals" or jingle bells, ribbons, lace, small branches, pine cones, decorated or painted soup cans, and other ornaments will make a Christmas tabletop not to be forgotten.

It doesn't really require that you go buy a lot of prepared items. Using what you have in new ways will save you money while allowing for a unique display. Get the materials together and play with them to see what looks good, what colors match or contrast and then arrive of some type of theme. Maybe a color combination is your goal or a theme of snowmen, santas, nutcrackers, candy-land, Rudolph and reindeer, angels, nativity or winter wonderland. Try to get your theme and then build from that. One specific ball, fabric or fabric might be the piece that you pull your inspiration from that will help you put all the pieces together.

It is not necessary that you have it all figured out before you start. Spread out on a table or the floor and play with glue, wire, fabric or other materials that you have and see what you can do. Don't be afraid to redo it as you move along. When you have it complete, take a photo of it. Then you can disassemble it to move it to the location you plan to use it and refer to the photo as a guide. You will have the photo for future reference to create it again or share it with others.

An ornament napkin ring that your guests get to keep is a special touch that they will remember each time they hang that ornament on their tree. You can fill goblets with candy for your guests to keep. Finding a scripture, quote or specific phrase to print and place at each seat instead of name cards, makes your guests feel special and that you took time thinking of them in preparing for their visit. Try using items for other than intended use. An example would be to spray pine cones with adhesive, roll them in glitter, shake off the excess and use them to hold the special note card at each seat. Place a shiny Christmas ball ornament inside each goblet on the table for a pop of color.

Extremely tall table center pieces can make table conversation difficult because guests sitting across from each other cannot make eye contact. In addition, centerpieces should not cramp the space needed for placemats, chargers, plates, utensils, napkins and drink glasses. If serving food family style, try to have a separate table to host the serving platters and bowls so food does not have to stay on the table during the meal.

Table linens can be used in multiples. Having two table runners that crisscross the table creates a shape and texture on the table. Different sized or shaped placemats can create the feeling of a charger even when none is used. If you plan to use clear glass or plastic plates, use a round charger in a color of your theme on the table at each seat, then place a solid or Christmas patterned paper doilie in the center of that and the clear plate on top of that. It will make your plate look like the doilie pattern and you can change it out year to year and season to season without investing in seasonal plates.

Whatever you choose to do, just remember to have fun! That is really what having guests is about. If you have fun creating it and sharing it with your guests they will love the thought and enthusiasm you project.

Be unique, be thoughtful and be thrifty!

By: Diana Saufley

Swans A Swimming Tabletop

Candy Cane Lane Tabletop

Santa's Suite Tabletop

Snowman Village Tabletop

Royal Burgandy and Gold Tabletop

Nutcracker Tabletop

Photos of Foundry United Methodist Church Women's Tabletop Celebration taken by Diana Saufley

Seasonal Sensation

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 03:31:00 +0000

This time of year there is a crunch underfoot as the leaves start falling from the trees. That's when I start yearning for another kind of crunch: TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS. This is a tradition that I make for my family each year. Pumpkin seeds seasoned just right with a little bit of a bite and a great flavor, initiate the Fall season for me and they are good for you!

I take the seeds that my family digs out of their pumpkins and clean them in a bowl. This is not painstaking work, just rinse well, pick out the pulp and chunks of pumpkin and then pour the seeds into a strainer. The seeds will feel very slimy, so rinse them again while they are in the strainer to get some of the slimy feeling off. Then, use a clean kitchen towel or paper towel to dry the seeds somewhat but not completely. Put parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spread the seeds out so they are not in clusters. Sprinkle them with the following:

* Willow House tuscan roasted garlic seasoning (http://cypress.willowhouse.com)

* Tony Chachere's original Creole Seasoning

* Seasoned salt

* Chili powder

~ The more you sprinkle the more zesty and possibly salty they will be, so flavor to your personal preference ~

Very lightly turn the seeds while sprinkling to make sure you get both sides, however DO NOT COAT the seeds heavily or they will be too salty.

Place the cookie sheet with the sprinkled seeds in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes and watch the seeds for a light brown toasted appearance. You might need to lightly turn the seeds with a spatula once during the first 20 minutes if you have a large quantity of seeds. Check the seeds after 20 minutes and cook about 5-10 minutes more if they are not lightly browned after 20 minutes. When lightly browned, take them from the oven and let them cool on the parchment paper on the cookie sheet. When the tray and seeds have cooled it is safe to handle the seeds and eat with your hands. Pumpkin seeds are more fiberous than nuts but have a wonderfully tasty crunch. My guests love them and my kids look forward to eating them each year as their reward for their hard work carving pumpkins.

Enjoy!

Ramekin bowl by Mario Batali (http://cypress.willowhouse.com )

Pumpkin seed nutritional information http://www.ehow.com/about_5413055_pumpkin-seeds-nutrition.html

3D Interiors

Tabletops That Create Conversation and Memories

Seasonal Sensation