Make Centerpiece from Vegetables

Decorating for a party but you don't have any fresh flowers? Want your table to make a statement with an impressive presence? This idea is so awesome, I just had to share it with you as it's especially eye-catching on a buffet table. Make a centerpiece out of using just greens found in the produce section of your supermarket!

First, if you're lucky enough to have a silver urn, use that, otherwise a ceramic pot would do just as well. Fill it partially with water then start filling the outer edges with curly leaf lettuce, and working other greens in the middle to fill in - red leaf lettuce, endive, even some small bunches of broccoli (whatever you can find would look wonderful). Don't be afraid to let the greens drape gracefully over the edges. Build the center up, but don't make it so high you can't see over it should you use it at a table where people will be seated.

Then get two bunches of asparagus (leave the rubber bands on); tie a beautiful sateen ribbon in a bow around the bottom rubber band (a nice olive color with the sheen and long tails to drape "scrunched up" on the table looks great). Remove the top rubber band and set the bundle on a small round mirror (find them at craft stores for about $2). Can't find mirrors? Small white plates or a color coordinating with your ceramic pot would work. Place the asparagus bundles in front of the "Leafy Green" bowl, one to each side (but sitting in front of it).

Now get three artichokes - cut off bottoms so they will stand flat. With a paring knife, hollow out the bottom a bit because you will be opening up the top of the choke to accommodate a votive candle holder with a white votive inside, so you want to be able to push the votive holder down into the choke so that the top of votive holder is flush with points of choke.

Place the three lighted artichokes in kind of a "V" formation; one next to the urn to the left and the other two in front of the asparagus bundles. An asymmetrical design here is what we're going for. Now stand back and admire your talent!

By Diane from Rochester, NY