Thanksgiving Decor Made Easy

Make your Thanksgiving table the talk of the family for years to come. All it takes is a little creativity and a time to set a table that even Martha Stewart would be proud to show. Most of the items used are part of your pantry and those that aren't are inexpensive to purchase.

For the table top: If you have the time, purchase several of the smaller gourds to use as holders for tapered candle sticks. Use a Dremmel or other drilling tool to create a hole in the center of each gourd. Turn the gourd upside down and slice across the bottom using a sharp knife to make a flat surface (this will keep the gourd from falling over). Insert the candles into the gourd. To complete the centerpiece, layer greenery around the gourds and place a larger gourd or small pumpkin in between the two gourds on top of the greenery.

Serving dishes for your foods is where you can really show off your creativity. Cranberry sauce is beautiful when served in individual orange cups. When purchasing the oranges, juice oranges work best and you need one orange per every two people. You will also need kale or some other green leaf lettuce to line the orange cups.

Cut the oranges in half and carefully scoop out the fruit inside, leaving an empty shell. Reserve the orange fruit to use in your favorite desert or let the children have it for snacks while you are preparing dinner. Turn the now empty orange halves over and skim the bottom with a sharp knife. This will make a flat surface to keep the orange cups from tipping over. Place your kale or other green leaf lettuce in the cups allowing some to hang over the edge for decoration. You can now fill each cup with any type cranberry sauce - homemade or store bought. The whole berry cranberry sauces look especially pretty in these orange cups. Place one cup at each place setting.

For coleslaw or any other salad or pasta salad you might be serving, make a cabbage bowl. Cut a lid about ¼" from the top of the cabbage (not the stem end). Remove the interior of the cabbage using a grapefruit knife or other small knife. Be sure to leave a sturdy shell (approximately 1/4" thick works well). Trim the stem end of the bowl so that the shell will sit firmly. Your bowl is now ready to be filled with your favorite coleslaw or salad.

For your other dishes you can create an array of varying bowls using seasonal gourds and pumpkins of varying sizes. Follow the same protocol as the cabbage and orange - remove the interior flesh and make sure the bottom is level to prevent tipping. Use kale or green leaf lettuce to add to the décor and also as a liner for the 'bowls'. Fill your bowls with your favorite side items and watch as guests oooh and ahh.

The ideas are limitless when it comes to making your table sparkle for the holidays. Look to seasonal flowers and vegetables for ideas. Comb through your cabinets for those long forgotten bowls and other dishes that have long been tucked away. You can create that magic holiday for your family with little to no extra purchases.