Home Care in Raleigh NC
Having a centerpiece on your table draws focus and ties together the decorative approach of the entire room while adding seasonal flair. While having an elegant, beautiful centerpiece is a lovely way to enhance the space and create a sophisticated look for your Thanksgiving table, making something fun and silly can create a more casual, friendly atmosphere and spark conversations among your guests. This craft is perfect for your aging parents to make with their home care provider as their contribution to the Thanksgiving celebration, and doubles as a display for appetizers your guests can enjoy before the main meal.
What You’ll Need
• Medium to large pumpkin
• Pear
• Black olives
• Red bell pepper
• Block of extra sharp cheddar cheese
• Block of Monterrey jack cheese
• Red grapes
• 14 long bamboo skewers
• Toothpicks
• Sharp knife
• Large tray or butcher block
What to Do
• Look for a pumpkin with one side that is naturally slightly flat. This will help the pumpkin stay more stable when you stand it in the center of the table. Clean it off and dry it thoroughly
• Position the pumpkin on its side on the tray or butcher block for display in the center of the table. Make sure that it sits securely and does not wobble. If it does wobble, cut a very thin slice of the flesh of the pumpkin off of the bottom to create a flat section and place it on top of several layers of paper towels to absorb any liquid that may come out
• Remove the stem from the pear
• Insert one of the bamboo skewers into the bottom of the pear so that it goes nearly to the stem end but still sticks several inches out of the bottom
• Remove the stem of the pumpkin
• Insert the skewer into the end of the pumpkin so that the bottom of the pear is flush with the end of the pumpkin
• Insert a toothpick into the end of two black olives
• Insert the ends of these toothpicks into the top swell of the bottom of the pear to create the “eyes” of the turkey
• Use the sharp knife to cut a slice out of the red bell pepper. Save the rest of the pepper for another dish
• Cut a long, narrow triangle out of the slice of pepper
• Insert a toothpick into the wide end of the triangle
• Insert this pick into the end of the pear to create the “beak” of the turkey
• Cut a wattle shape out of the slice of pepper and attach it to the bottom of the front of the pear with another toothpick
• Cut turkey feet shapes out of the slice of pepper and attach them at the bottom of the front of the pumpkin
• Use the sharp knife to cut a vertical line down the middle of the blocks of cheese
• Repeat this cut down each of the halves
• Hold the pieces of the cheese blocks together and make several horizontal cuts across all of the pieces to create cubes
• Insert the remaining bamboo skewers into the top of the pumpkin in a fan shape to create the “tail feathers” of the turkey
• Fill the first skewer with cubes of cheddar cheese, the second skewer with cubes of Monterrey jack cheese, and the third skewer with grapes
• Continue this pattern until all of the skewers are filled.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Raleigh, NC or the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at HomeChoice Home Care Services. Call today (919) 847-5622