How to Set a Thanksgiving Day Table

 

This is my show notes from this weeks primtalkradio podcast segment. 

How to Set the Thanksgiving Table

 

Hello, Michele here from www.briarpatchprim.com talking to you today about setting a great Thanksgiving Day Table.

With the fall season in full swing and winter just around the corner its an honor to celebrate the great blessings we’ve been given throughout the past year. There are lots of things to be thankful for. One of the things I’m thankful for is the ability to decorate my home. I’m really blessed when I create a safe haven for my family and friends. The main gathering area at my home is my kitchen and on Thanksgiving Day the table becomes the main attraction. Not just for the food that will adorn it but for the obvious space that it makes available for me to decorate on.

So I’ve put together a few ideas to make your home special this holiday. Pumpkins and gourds real or artificial are still in season so bring a few of those to the table to make a beautiful table scape. You can do this by arranging them on a nice silver or pewter tray or maybe you have a vintage tray available place this in the center of your table. Take those smallish gourds and carve out a chunk in the top center and place a tealight into the center of the gourd for great ambiance.

You can also take your fall wreath and lay it flat on your table you can lay a mirror under it to give extra sparkle to your candlelight. Need a quick wreath you can collect bittersweet and wrap it naturally in a wreath shape and lay it on your table. You can also add color to your chandalier by wrapping the bittersweet around it.

Cornucopia’s are a traditional Thanksgiving Day decoration. Take yours and place on your table or even your buffet and fill it with fresh apples, pears and grapes. Add some assorted cheeses and fresh bread and whole nuts to make a great edible centerpiece. Your early guests will love this as they can have an appetizer and you don’t have to worry about storage space after the holiday.

Another great tip is to go outside and collect acorns this is great for a family walk and if you have kids in your family they can be apart of helping you. Now with these acorns you can first place a pretty runner down the center of your table and sprinkle the acorns and some leaves all over the table. If you’d like you can even spray paint the acorns gold and that would add a bit more of an elegant look to your table, and will give a little sparkle when the candles are lit.

Now don’t forget the napkins a unique idea for them would be to use miniature indian corn as a napking ring. Just fold the napkin into a shape that you like and using string just tie the corn cobb onto the front of the napkin.

Another quick tip to help with the busy day is to go ahead and set your table up a few days ahead of time. If your worried cover it with a big clean sheet to keep off any dust, kids or pets.

When your guests arrive and smell the wonderful food baking, see the lovely table that you’ve set before them they are going to be Thankful that they have you in their life and truly be reminded that this is a season to celebrate family, friends and all that God has given us.

As always have fun decorating and may God bless you from www.briarpatchprim.com

How to Dry Fruit

Today I’d like to talk about drying fruit. With winter decorating just around the corner I want to give you some tips on this great primitive decorating staple-dried fruit.

Drying your own fruit is a great way to add a primitive touch to your home this season. In the old days fruits were dried by stringing and hanging fresh fruits to dry on their own. The colors were perfect for Holiday decorating and so the colonists created this tradition and began hanging dried fruits on their mantels and doors.

Only the wealthiest colonist used pineapples and pomegranates and they would hang these on their doors for all to see.

While this tradition originated during the holidays you may just want to decorate with dried fruits all year long. Each season has its own bounty and may be the most cost effective way for you to dry and decorate. Some of the most popular fruits are oranges, apples, lemons. limes, cranberries and you may want to dry pumpkins, squash and even sweet potatoes.

To dry your fruit you will first want to gather up enough of your selected fruit to make your desired item. And if you decide to make a garland you’ll want to double the amount since the fruit will shrink as it dries.

Next slice your fruit into 1/4″ slices and you can go ahead and chunk your potaotes and pumpkins. You’ll want to let your cranberries whole, string them and let them dry on their own.

Now set your oven to a nice low temperature of 200 degrees F. Place your fruit onto a cookie sheet in a nice single layer and put in your oven. Periodically your going to check your fruit to see how its doing and at this time go ahead and flip and stir the pieces around. This drying method could take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours to dry. You could also use a food dehydrator.

If you plan on making a garland take your fruit out before its completely dry and using a needle and strong thread or string make your garland. Your fruit will finish drying on its own just like in the colonial times. Mix and match your dried fruits and you can even add cinnimon sticks and bay leaves.

You may want to sprinkle on some cinnamon to your slices before drying to add a great look

to your fruit and it smells divine too. Your dried fruit will look great as a garland or placed in wooden bowls or old jars and crocks. Make it into a wreath or hang on your twiggy tree. You can decorate your mantel or even your front door. Make little hang tags and place it on your presents for a nice homemade touch. If you’re a crafter you can use these to tie with wrapphia to your potpourri bags. Or give your dolly a little garland of her own to hold.

You can purchase dried artichokes and pomegranates on my site at www.briarpatchprim.com . Be sure to get yourself a bag or two. They are a must have to fill those old dough bowls.

Until next time have fun decorating and go to my contact page of my site send me an email and let me know what you think of my segments and of any requests for future shows.

Its Christmas at Briar Patch Primitives

Last weekend was my yearly open house.  I really like to do lots of fun things for my customers and those who are on my mailing list got a great gift from me.  The candles were burning.  My snowing tree was a magical sight.  I served Double Chocolate Scones, Parmesan Garlic Scones and Hot Spiced Cider and homemade sugar cookies, Yummm.  My guest also enjoy Hot Pepper Dip and Sugar and Spice Dip.  All the foods are mixes that I sell here in my retail shop and are so easy to make.

Here are a few pictures of my shop before the rush began.

Enjoy!