When planning for the Italian dinner that we had with the family of Michelle Gainey (catch up on what Italian Dinner I’m talking about here), I knew that I wanted to start the night off with a gorgeous charcuterie and cheese board. I love introducing kids to sophisticated experiences, because it shows them that sometimes when something looks a little intimidating, its usual not so bad. For instance, once Harper realized that the charcuterie and cheese was just a glorified version of her after school snack of deli meat and cheese sticks, she was totally hooked! Here I’m going to show you how I made my charcuterie board and tips on how you can make a beautiful charcuterie and cheese board too.
When thinking of charcuterie people automatically associate it with a meat and cheese board. But, charcuterie really references cooking with prepared meats. So when you’re ordering a charcuterie board at a restaurant, make sure it says cheese or cheeseboard beside it to avoid disappointment if you only receive meat.
Getting started with your charcuterie and cheese board
If you’re new here and don’t already know, I’m here to tell you that I always like to make my food Instagram worthy. But if this does not matter to you, at least attempt to make your board plentiful and beautiful. I like start off by using a large board to allow for a large variety of options to choose from.
Cheese
When deciding on what cheeses to use, try to keep in mind that everyone is not fond of the same types of cheeses. So, make sure that you have mild and sharp cheeses. Also, you want to make sure that you provide cheeses that range from hard to soft. I like to always include a mild cheddar and smoked gouda on my boards, because they’re always a crowd pleaser.
Meats
When it comes to the charcuterie, you want to continue to provide plenty of options for your guests. Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to use pork when choosing your meats. For example, you can add a pate or smoked turkey to your board so non-pork eaters can join in the fun too.
Garnishes
In my opinion, a proper charcuterie and cheese board isn’t proper without an assortment of jams, fresh fruit, nuts, mustard, and olives or pickles. When it comes to a carb, I enjoy bread. However, you can add crackers, pretzels, etc.
Now take everything that you’ve gathered and arrange them on the board so that there is room for each item to breathe. Nobody wants to pick up a piece of cheddar that taste like bleu. So, make sure that you allow each item to shine. Be sure to have appropriate cutting utensils for your cheeses and meats and plates for guests to set their selections on.
When you make your board, please take a pic and tag me on social media @RosalynnDaniels I’d love to see how it turned out!
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