For Thanksgiving this year, I decided to make a traditional flower centerpiece.

Step 1 - Get a square clear shaped container
Step 2 - Fill it with colored glass rocks
Step 3 - Make a grid with flower tape or scotch tape at top of container
Step 4 - Fill with water - add an aspirin, sugar and a drop of bleach
Step 5 - Buy a bouquet of flowers in orange, yellow, burnt red, greens and  browns
Step 6 - Cut them 2 1/2 times the size of the container, but keeping the arrangement balance and low enough so that  your guests can see each other across the table.
Step 7 - Surround your centerpiece with persimmons or miniature pumpkins

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!!!

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Apart from enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, I also love setting a beautiful table for my family and guests. Just as cooking provokes creativity so does table setting.  Having Waterford crystal, sterling silver or Rosenthal china is not necessarily what makes an impressive table. What makes everyone smile as they sit down is the beauty you bring to the table with color, flowers, candles, napkin rings and table cloths or placemats.  Your centerpiece is the main focus. Use Autumn colored flowers and leaves along with baby pumpkins and squash.  This particular centerpiece was made by my mother; she likes to incorporate objects, like birds, colored rocks and artificial fruit. You can see us making this table setting on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/user/martaperrone?blend=1&ob=5#p/u/0/K0YJlaDDRy4

In the meantime, here are some simple tips:

• Use colored chargers to dress up the main dinner plate.
  
• Select placemats to compliment your dinnerware
• You can match napkins or bring in another color to make it interesting
• Find napkin rings that make a statement
  
• Mix up tall and votive candles throughout the table
• Use mini vases and add small single flowers
• Throw in colored stones or fruit to dress up the bottom of your vase
  
• Throw dried Autumn leaves throughout
  
• Set your smaller fork (for salad) to the left of your dinner fork on the left side of the plate
• Set your knife with the sharp side facing in and at the right side of the dinner plate
• Water glass goes to the left of the wine glass - keep it filled throughout the meal
  
• Bread plates on the left side with butter knife on top of plate with blade facing in
• Serve to the left of your guest and remove from the right (standard American way

With the holidays approaching, now is a good time to check your cupboard and see what you have to dress up the table. You may need to purchase a few things.


A beautiful table at Thanksgiving adds to the warmth and joy of a holiday that is noted for bringing family and friends together.

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Creating a beautiful table requires many elements. Begin with cleaning the table before setting it. You may use place mats or a table cloth. Choose a color scheme that works with your china and build the table around your china.  Using a charge underneath your dinner plate makes your dishes stand out. Place all the dishes that re being used for each course on the table with the first course dish on top.  Use the other dishes below to serve as liners.

Use napkin ring holders to add to the napkins and place them to the left of the dinner plate or in the center of the plate. You may also fold the napkin decoratively without using a napkin ring.

Place your glassware to the right of the dishes with the water goblet to the left of the wine glasses.

Place your cutlery from outside in depending on the course.  For example, the smaller fork used for salad would be to the left of the dinner plate and to the left of the dinner fork.

Use other decorate items to make the table interesting such as:  candles, votives, flower pedals, and flower centerpieces.

When people are invited to have dinner at your house, they never want to miss it!  And you would feel the same way because there is nothing like it when you can sit down and be served. It begins with wonderful appetizers, a good drink in hand as the conversation ensues.  Then you are summoned to the dining table where you see beautiful flowers, candles lit, napkins decoratively placed surrounded by exquisite crystal and silver cutlery. The plates add color to the table with liners beneath them.  This is a formal dining table; something you don't set every day.

It is beautiful to look at and makes the dining experience just that much more inviting. 

Learning how to entertain, set a formal table and serve is an art.  It is a skill worth learning!