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This holiday season, impress your guests with a charcuterie board! Carefully crafted and presented quite elegantly, a charcuterie board is essentially a fancy title for a meat and cheese board. Here are five easy steps to help you prepare the perfect appetizer!
1. Select Your Provisions.
Having a medley of diverse cured meats is the first step to create your cheese board. Aim for thinly sliced provisions such as prosciutto or peppered salami. Then try rolling the slices or layering them on your board. Typically these meats can be found at local food stores including Keeler Bay Variety, Healthy Living, and City Market.
Photo Source: FN Sharp
2. Choose Your Cheese.
The next step is choosing your fromage. While it's hard to go wrong in this department, incorporating multiple contrasting textures will keep your board fun and interesting! Include artisanal cheeses like Isle La Motte’s Happy Bird Poultry Farm’s Smoked Seriously Sharp Cheddar slices and then mix in a softer cheese like Vermont Creamery’s herb goat cheese. For one stop shopping, check out Arbor Farm Market or Cheese and Wine Traders for a wide selection of local Vermont products.
Photo source: Happy Bird Poultry
3. Incorporate Fruit And Nuts.
Adding fruit to your board provides a pop of color and also creates a sweet mixture of flavors. Select fruit that goes with your cheeses of choice. Include an assortment of fresh and dried fruit then try to add a fruit spread or chutney! Test out My Kid's Kitchen's excellent selection of fruit preserves. Plus, don’t forget to add a mix of nuts in there...Do we dare suggest candied walnuts?
Photo source: Arbor Farmstead
4. Add Crackers and Bread
When making your decision on what crackers to incorporate, think about the type of cheese and meats you’ve selected. Vermont’s Castleton’s Crackers complement nicely with harder cheeses while hand crafted bread such as a seeded baguette from Wally's Place would be ideal to pair with your spreads or dips.
Photo source: Wally's Place
5. Assemble the Board
Firstly, we recommend using your largest cutting board or a sizable serving platter. Then, layer the cheese and meats on top of each other and sprinkle the fruit and nuts in where you see fit. Additionally, you can use a small bowl for creamy dip or olives. Include any necessary utensils such as cheese knives and garnish with an herb like rosemary or thyme for a pleasant aroma!
Photo source: A Dash of Megnut
Now pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back, marvel at your board, and dive in! Whether you're gathering with family at the holidays or going to housewarming parties charcuterie boards will be sure to amaze your company and their taste buds!
Photo source: Edyta via Eating European
