The holidays are here, which means friends and family will be gathering for winter festivities and to welcome in the new year. Don’t be the host with the same boring store bought appetizers.  This Thanksgiving, my family held our dinner at my new apartment, which meant the menu was up to me. I decided they would be the guinea pigs in my first cheeseboard experiment. 

Even if it’s just for a casual wine night, you can easily whip something up that’s quick, simple and Instagram worthy that will leave your guests saying, “More cheese, please!” Here’s how I did it. 

 

What you’ll need:

• A cutting board for presentation
• A sprig of fresh Rosemary
• Assorted blocks of cheese
• Sliced meat of your choosing
• Crackers of your choosing

 

It’s really simple and there is no right or wrong, but here’s a simple guide to get you started. The biggest tip is that you want to create something colorful. Remember that!

I used three types of crackers, including a plain, a darker colored wheat to contrast, and another lighter colored cracker that had a flavor to it. Arrange them in spirals, bunches and other designs that look intricate to you. 

A lot of people use small bowls as anchor points, and fill them with nuts, grapes, dips and other small bites. I was not one of those people. But feel free to experiment!

Take your blocks of cheese and cut out handfuls of cubes. Remember, you want an assortment of colors, but don’t forget about the varying taste buds of your guests. Try a cheddar, a Swiss and a mozzarella. Depending on how many people you’re expecting, throw in a fourth with a Munster. Don’t place your cheese cubes. Pile them on top to it looks more natural. If you have a small bowl you can use whipped cream cheese, or if not, a block sliced into a wedge.

Now for the meat. My family is simple, so I knew I was already going overboard. I chose only one type of meat that had an Italian seasoning on it because, well, it looked fancier than the plain meat. Already pre-sliced, it was easy to fold each piece in half and stack them in the spaces I still had open on my board. 

Make sure to fill in any gaps by spreading out your crackers, or adding a few extra cubes of cheese. Again, just pile them on for a natural look. 

For the fun part, tear two small pieces of rosemary off and place them across from each other to balance out the greenery. 

There you have it. It might sound intimidating, but it was actually fun. Have you tried to make your own cheese bord? Let’s see what you’ve got!

Until next time

-Jae Marie