I'm back today with the last of our La Crema Farm-to-Table at Home series! I hope you've enjoyed it these past few months. I know I won't be forgetting our incredible trip to California any time soon.

We stayed at an amazing loft in downtown Healdsburg, and while we did go out quite a bit, we also did a ton of cooking--and we started with a gorgeous but simple one-pot chicken and mushroom risotto that I'm still thinking about to this day. We set a beautiful table that took no time at all and enjoyed such a great meal together. Today I'll be sharing some tips with you for setting an elegant table perfect for everyday life and dining.

So without further ado, here are some tips for setting an elegant table everyday--no matter the occasion (or not!):

• Go for white dishes, but add texture.
• Layer plates and bowls on top of each other at each setting to add depth and contrast. (Feel free to add color or patterns if that's more your style!)
• Include some gold accents, like a charger. 
• Don't be afraid to mix metals--gold flatware is super pretty but sometimes can be hard to find. Feel free to combine your everyday silverware with gold chargers and details, like the fun stemless wine glasses we used all week.
• Don't forget the flowers! We love silk ones because they last forever and you can do so much with them. We also incorporated some fresh herb centerpieces that work extra hard as decoration on the table and flavor in the kitchen.
• Have fun with it--experiment with your own personal style and remember that you don't need a special occasion to set a beautiful table. Weeknights with family and/or friends are special enough.

And no meal (or table) is complete without a few glasses of La Crema wines! We paired our risotto with both red and white--the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a favorite, but you also can't beat the richness of their Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. The Monterey Chardonnay is another classic--you might as well include all three, just to be safe! So many dishes pair well with either red or white, so it's always fun to do a little of both.

For more information on this elegant weeknight dinner, make sure to visit all of our Farm-to-Table at Home posts in this series:

Farm-to-Table at Home: Weeknight Dinners

Elegant Everyday Table Setting and Decor

Easy Herb Centerpieces

One Pot Risotto

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of La Crema. The opinions and text are all mine.

For as long as I can remember, I've identified as someone who loves food. My mom was always cooking something delicious when I was a kid, and her dad was always doing the same while she was growing up. We were big pasta eaters, too--everything was served with or on pasta. 

Having an Italian mom from Argentina meant a lot to me--we drink yerba mate every morning when we're together and cooking has always been a favorite family pastime. And carbs! Who doesn't love pasta? I certainly do, which made it really tough for me to realize that I was gluten intolerant a few years ago. I started swapping out gluten and grains and dairy and sugar and was feeling a lot better, even if I missed our old traditions (pasta with pesto and arroz con leche to name a couple). But I soon learned that it's not necessarily what you're eating that makes food special--it's who you're sharing it with.

And we came up with some new favorites--this Paleo Pizza Chicken is one of them.

Ingredients: 

• 1.5 pounds of chicken (you can use thighs or breasts--I like thighs with skin on)
• About 3 ounces of pepperoni
• 1/2 onion, diced
• About 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1-2 cloves of fresh garlic, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• About 15 ounces of Traditional Ragu pasta sauce
• 2-4 tablespoons of black olives (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a large pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and diced onions and saute for 3-5 minutes.
2. Slice or cut up the pepperoni and add to the pan, along with some of the olives (save a few to top the dish when it's done).
3. Place the chicken in the pan and brown well on one side. Flip it over and cover with some tomato sauce. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper.
4. Turn the heat to low and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until cooked through (time will depend on the thickness of the chicken).
5. Serve hot with a side of veggies--I love roasted Brussels sprouts!

Thank you to Ragu for sponsoring today's post and inspiring me to pass on my family traditions!

One of my all time favorite salads is a combination more than a specific recipe: greens, goat cheese, some kind of tart berry or fruit on top, and an easy homemade vinaigrette. For our Farm-to-Table Harvest Dinner we used a leaf lettuce and spinach mix with pomegranates, which are perfect for autumn!

Ingredients: 

• 8 ounces greens--use leaf lettuce for a seasonal option in the September
• 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
• 1/2 cup to a full cup of fresh pomegranate seeds
• Croutons (optional)

Instructions: 

1. Wash and dry the lettuce. Add to a large serving bowl.
2. Top the salad with goat cheese and pomegranate seeds. Add croutons if desired.
3. Serve with the vinaigrette of your choice--we recommend a balsamic vinaigrette.

This salad is really delicious with La Crema's Monterey Pinot Noir, which is super easy to find in stores. We had so much fun pairing all of our dishes with their wines--it was truly a delicious culinary experience. Make sure to check out the rest of our posts to get the rest of our recipes, decor, and wine pairings.

Follow along with our Farm-to-Table Harvest Dinner and get full recipes for each dish on Sweet C's Designs, Freckled Italian, and the La Crema Winery blog here:

Farm-to-Table Harvest Dinner

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Pomegranate Chevre Salad

Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts with Ghee

Perfect Sauteed Mushrooms

Garlic and Lemon Roasted Rack of Lamb

Chocolate Mousse Shooters

Fall-Inspired Tablescape with Succulent Centerpieces

Photos by Courtney O'Dell by Sweet C's Designs.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of La Crema. The opinions and text are all mine.