DIY Fall Votive Mason Jars- A Thanksgiving Centerpiece

I love mason jars! They are perfect as candle votive holders and placing a few jars together makes a perfect table centerpiece. Below I show you how to create a Fall look with your mason jars that can be used as a simple and elegant centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. Hope you enjoy!

DIY Fall Votive Mason Jars

 Supplies Needed:

• 3 mason jars (I bought mine at Dollar Tree)
• 3 ivory votive candles
• Brown Spanish Moss
• Ivory Twine
• Fake floral berries (I found mine on the arrangements that my fall leaves from above were on) 

Directions:

1. Unscrew the lids off your mason jars, remove the center canning parts and keep only the rim to screw back onto the top of your jar. 
2. Cut three sections of berries 1.5-2 inches long from your floral arrangement. Cut three pieces of 3-4 feet of twine. 
3. Make sure your lids are off your jar and grab a handful of spanish moss and stuff it into each one of your jars. In the center of the moss, burrow a small hole where you can put your votive candle so it will sit up straight and evenly.
4. Once all jars have moss and votive candles situated in them, screw your lids (without the center) back onto the jars. Grab one piece of twine and wrap it around the gold rim of your mason jar holding one edge of the twine in your hand, after you have wrapped it around where now the other edge of the twine meets, tie a loose knot with 1 inch of space between your knot and the lid of the jar. 
5. Place one section of berries into the space between the jar lid and knot. Now grab the ends of your knot, pulling the berries onto the jar lid very tightly. Tie another knot so the berries are securely fastened to the jar lid. Cut any remaining ends of the knot. Repeat with remaining jars. 
6. Once all jars have berries and twine fastened to them,  light your candles and place jars where desired to enjoy! :) 

Pictured below: 1-burrowed moss with votive candle in it,  2-berries left on fall arrangement that I cut into sections to use, 3- completed fall votive mason jar 

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DIY Glitter Fall Leaves

For Thanksgiving I always love to make the dinner table festive with Rich Fall hues before we have to jump right into Winter! For my Thanksgiving table setting I purchased an ivory colored table cloth and a roll of Burlap Ribbon that I placed across the middle of my table, to draw just the right amount of attention to the center. The burlap ribbon is a subtle color and allows you to place a centerpiece of your choice in the middle.  Whether you're placing a vase full of Fall flowers, a pumpkin or candle arrangement in the middle of your table the burlap ribbon makes for a perfect table runner. Here are instructions for how to make fake glitter leaves; these are perfect to toss onto your Thanksgiving table and add just enough sparkle to jazz up your table setting!

DIY Glitter Fall Leaves 

Supplies Needed:

• Fake floral leaves 
• Mod Podge
• Sponge Brush
• 3 different colors of extra fine glitter 

Directions: 

1. Cut your desired fall leaves from fake flower arrangements and lay them out on a covered surface.
2. Using sponge brush,  paint surface of a leaf with mod podge. 
3. Pour extra fine glitter onto the mod podge covered surface of leaf. Repeat with remaining leaves, changing up the glitter color until all leaves are glittered. Let leaves sit for 15 minutes.
4. After leaves have sat for 15 minutes, pick leaves up and shake the loose glitter off onto your covered surface. 
5. Let leaves dry for 2 hours until the glue has fully dried, before placing the leaves on your set table be sure to shake them once more for any loose glitter. (If you don't want to worry about any loose glitter falling off your leaves you can always paint another coat of mod podge over the glitter layer to seal it all in; just make sure you decide to do this a good amount of time in advance before your dinner so that the top coat covering the glitter can fully dry.) 

Pictured below: 1-Remove fake leaves, 2-coat leaf with mod podge, 3-cover mod podge surface with glitter

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Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Here is another classic comfort food recipe gone gluten free that I experimented with! This is one of mine and my families favorites, hope you enjoy!

Easy Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (It's easiest and personally I think its yummier to get a rotisserie chicken and use that!)
• 1 bag of Organic Foursome frozen Vegetables from Trader Joe's (includes organic peas, cut green beans, carrots and corn)
• 1 (10, 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups Gluten Free Bisquick mix
• 1 cup milk 
• 1/2 stick melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Step 1: Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Layer or mix up the chicken and frozen vegetables in the dish.

Step 2: In a separate bowl mix together cream of chicken soup and chicken broth. Pour mixture over chicken and frozen vegetables in your casserole dish. 

Step 3: In another bowl mix together the gluten free Bisquick mix and milk. Pour this mixture over the chicken, vegetables, chicken broth and cream mixture that is in your dish.  

Step 4: Once your casserole dish is covered with the Bisquick + Milk mixture, drizzle the melted butter over the top. Place dish in your heated oven and bake for 60 minutes, or until top is golden brown. 

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Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

As the weather is progressively getting cooler, I always crave something warm and delicious for dinner. So after experimenting in the kitchen a bit I decided to post some gluten free comfort food recipes. All of them are delicious, easy and perfect for those chilly nights. I hope you enjoy this tasty gluten free for an all american dish....macaroni & cheese!

The Yummiest gluten free Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients: (serves 4 as a side dish)

• 2 cups dry gluten free elbow macaroni or penne pasta (I have made both kinds of pasta and they are equally as delicious, I purchased both pastas from my local Safeway) 
• 8 ounces Original Velveeta cheese
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Step 1: In a large pot, boil water and cook your pasta according to packages instructions. 

Step 2: Cut/cube Velveeta cheese into small pieces, place the cubed  Velveeta cheese in a small saucepan. Add heavy cream and salt to the saucepan, stir ingredients together. 

Step 3: Turn saucepans heat on low, stir cheese and cream together until cheese cubes are melted. Reduce heat once the cheese is melted. 

Step 4: When your gluten free pasta is done, drain pasta and place it back into the pot you cooked it in. Add your cheese sauce to the pot of pasta and stir. Coat all noodles with sauce, serve and enjoy! 

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