Outdoor Table Setting
This is the time of year that spring comes for much of the world. Grills are pulled out of storage and dusted off. Lawn chairs are cleaned and set out for use. The deck gets a good scrubbing. And when the flowers start to bloom and you feel the sun on your face it just seems right to invite friends over for a grill-out. Here are some easy ways to spice up your outdoor table setting a bit so that your friends will feel extra special!
If you already have a tablecloth that you like then go ahead and use it. If not, you can buy one or, better yet, make one! I decided to use denim because it is not an expected table covering, it has some weight to it so withstands the wind better, and it is easy to wash. Measure the top of the table you will be covering. I don't like having the cloth hang over the sides where the chairs are (I feel it just gets in the way and more than likely gets pulled this way and that as people move around), so I cut my fabric the width of the table plus seam allowance, 1" (2.5cm) on each side. Then I cut it the length of the table plus the amount of overhang I wanted, in this case about 15" (38cm) of overhang on each end.
Sew a 1/2" (1cm) rolled hem along each long edge of the cloth. If you want a clean finish, do the same on the short ends. I decided to take advantage of a bit of the charm of denim and also to keep the table setting fun and informal by fringing the edges of the overhang. To make the fringe sew a straight line about 1/2" (1cm) from the edge and then sew a second line close to the first (fig A). To create an attractive, non-stringy, fringe use a pair of sharp scissors to cut from the edge to the first row of stitching about every 1/2" (1cm) or so (fig B). You do not need to cut any closer than that. Run the denim through a wash and dry cycle in your laundry machines and the fringe will come out lovely. Be sure to press the denim before you use it.
One big problem with eating outdoors is that the wind can pick up and blow the plates away or blow the tablecloth up into the food. Here is an easy solution to those problems: cut two pieces of ribbon the length of your table, plus a bit for overhang on each end. Knot each end of the ribbon around the stem of an apple. Lay the ribbons over the tablecloth so that the apples hang down on each side (fig C). Their weight will keep the cloth from blowing around. For each place setting cut a small slit at the top of an apple and insert a name card made of a sturdy paper. Set the napkin on the plate and the apple name card on the napkin (fig D).
If you don't like name cards you can also set a tealight on top of the apple and trace around it. Carve out a bit of the apple using a knife and a small spoon to scrape out the flesh. Place the tealight in the carved out area and set one at each place setting.
Bugs can also be troublesome when you're eating outdoors. There are all kinds of things you can do to help keep them at bay, but one of the simplest is to burn a citronella candle. You can make a fun lantern to use as your centerpiece, and it can also function to keep the pesky bugs away from your meal. Clean out a tin can (e.g. a soup can) and dry it well. With a permanent marker draw some simple shapes on the outside of the can. I chose to stick with the theme and I drew easy apple shapes. If you feel uneasy about your ability to draw have no fear! You can simply make polka-dots and it will turn out looking just as great. Fill the can with water and put it in the freezer until it is frozen solid (fig E). If you have a vice grip like I do it will come in handy at this point; if you don't then you'll need to find a helper. Hammer the nail through the tin along the lines of your design (fig F). Keep the holes fairly close together and it will look nicer in the end. I used a thin nail for the apple patterns and a larger nail to create a line around the bottom. Don't forget to make two holes at the top of the can so that you can insert a handle for hanging. Let the ice melt out and dry the can off.
Now it's time to paint the outside of the can. I don't like the texture a paintbrush leaves on the surface of the can so I prefer to apply the paint with a cloth. Apply thin layers and let them dry before you apply another coat. When the paint is dry, spray it inside and out with a glaze made for outdoor use. You can add a handle to the lantern by threading a bit of wire through the two holes you made at the top of the can. I dressed the handle up with a handful of plastic and glass beads I already had on hand (fig G). Put your citronella candle inside and you're all set to attractively ward off annoying bugs. Your guests will be so happy!
An ice cold glass of water can be very refreshing on a hot, sunny day. But plain water can sometimes seem...well, plain. Everyone knows that lemon slices can add a bit of fresh flavor to water, but so can apple. I cut the peel into thin strips and add them to a pitcher of water at least a half hour before the guests arrive. That gives the apple time to lightly flavor the water. If you cut an apple into slices across the core (instead of from the stem to the bottom) you will have slices that all have a star in the middle. Make a slit halfway through the slices, dip them in lemon juice and use them to garnish the rim of the glasses (fig H).
Now sit back and enjoy the company of good friends and good food all summer long! Bon apetit!