Blog - Parsley and Pom Poms

This Thanksgiving season I have spent time working through a few ideas to complete a beautiful tablescape for Turkey Thursday. A few original ideas each year can really make a difference in updating your table and making the holiday feel unique compared to the year before. The smaller details, such as napkin rings, can be the updated touch that can make each place setting feel special and new. My craving to escape the Florida sun and travel back to my northern roots, which is exactly what I am doing for the holidays, has inspired me to create napkin rings out of more fall-like, natural greens, and harvest wheat materials. The rings take little work and fit perfectly in with the warm rustic farm fresh appeal that is planned for our family's Thanksgiving table in Jersey. xo RCN

What you need:

Hot glue gun

Hot glue sticks

Faux/plastic wheat bunch (one 6" stem per ring)

Natural dried wheat bunch (one 4 inch stem per ring)

Natural dried rosemary bunch or similar natural dried green (three 2-3" stems per ring)

Natural dried bunny tails (Lagurus) bunch (two bunny tail tops with 1-2" stem per ring)

Red or green protea fresh leave bunches (three leaves per ring)

Note: All dried bunches of naturals were purchased at Michael's and natural protea leaves purchased at Whole Foods Market. The protea leaves were living when rings were crafted, and dried up after a few days of sitting out. Leaves vary in color from green to burgundy and will turn darker once they are dried out.

Take plastic wheat stem and overlap ends, one and a half inches on both sides. Hot glue overlapped ends with a small squirt of glue. Secondly, take natural wheat and attach to about 1/2 to 2/3 of the plastic ring's surface. Adhere with another small dab of hot glue on each end of the dried wheat. Press and hold dried wheat to plastic wheat firmly until glue drys (about 30 seconds or less).

On the 1/2 side not covered with natural wheat, glue the rosemary in 3 layers, overlapping each a slight amount, starting with the longest of the three and placing it towards the top. It helps to bend and make the stems flexible in order to mimic the shape of the ring.

The last two steps include glueing the bunny tail tops beside one another at an angle below the rosemary and layering the three protea leaves on the back side pointing upward between bunny tails and rosemary. Remove all extra glue hanging from rings and you are done.

Enjoy xo RCN

Sliced and dried citrus fruits provide a beautiful accent to serving plates for meals, mixed potpourris, or simply a garnish to a cocktail, drink, or place setting. They take a little time, but not much work. Heat your oven to the lowest setting, usually somewhere between 75 degrees F - 200 degrees F. Cook sliced pieces of fruit for 2-4 hours. It will vary depending on your oven and how thin you cut your citrus slices. Flip fruits over on baking sheet lined with aluminum foil every hour. Once the slices are not juicy any longer, remove from oven and let sit for a day or two. That's it! The fruit pictured above took me about 3 1/2 hours at 200 degrees and then sat open air for 2 days. I cut up 1/4" - 1/2" wide slices of red grapefruits and lemons. You could also do this with naval oranges, blood oranges, limes, tangerines, etc.

FYI: First image above reflects the fruit pre-baking, second image shows post baking (the same afternoon), and the third image is the final result three days later.

I love the idea of attaching the fruit along with a name tag onto glasses for a cocktail party. So, that is exactly what I did. The cups can double as a place card at a formal seating arrangement or bar and also be gifted as a parting favor to guests. The glass mugs were $2.99 from Michael's, not bad! To get the look, simply thread about a yard of baker's string though a small cut out circle from oak tag and two fruit pieces, then tie all items around the tops of glass mason jar mugs. I used a sewing needle to help poke the string through the paper and the fruit. Refer to images below for the how to.

Enjoy your festive garnish and glass. xo RCN