Lifestyle

How To Create An Easy Charcuterie Board

easy charcuterie boardThis post is brought to you by the letter “C”.  “C” is for… Charcuterie! It’s a fancy word for a simple appetizer. AND, it’s just plain fun to say. Come on, say it; Shar-koo-ter-ee, Shar-KOO-ter-eeee. SO fun! 😄Ok, I digress.

When you’re invited to a gathering, do you labor over what to bring? Or maybe you fall into a rut when entertaining and just throw some chips and salsa out for your guests. (I have nothing against chips and salsa, they’re delicious. Especially when you wash them down with a margarita!) With the holiday season not too far down the road😱, I thought it would be helpful to share one of my go-to appetizers. It’s super easy but looks like you spent lots of time. So, let’s dig in!

charcuterie elements

Use a variety of items for an interesting charcuterie board–Trader Joe’s is a great source for budget-friendly items

What to buy for your charcuterie board

The beauty of a charcuterie board is that you can put anything you want on it. I like to use a variety of things that all pair well together. I start with one or two cheeses, usually one soft, like Brie or Camambert, and a harder cheese, like a Manchego or Asiago. I always have salami and prosciutto; they both go really well with the cheese. It’s good to include some sort of cracker, or bread. I mean, smeared brie on a piece of crusty bread, c’mon! Those are my staples and from there, it’s kind of a free-for-all. I like to include olives, some type of nuts (cashews or pistachios work well), edamame and some sort of fruit spread like a fig spread or marmalade. Again, you can use your imagination and add anything you like.

These items can add up at the grocery store, especially the cheeses and meats, so I try and hit Trader Joe’s for 90% of my items. If you haven’t been I HIGHLY recommend a trip there. You can’t beat their prices and they have a great variety. You could spend days looking at the cheese alone! (Side note; let me know if you would be interested in a what to buy at Trader Joe’s post!)

charcuterie board

It’s easy to arrange your board in a creative way

How to build your charcuterie board

Rules for putting the charcuterie board together are the same as what to put on it, it’s completely up to you. If you really want to get artistic, you can scan Pinterest for ideas. There are a bazillion different charcuterie boards there. I usually just go with alternating by color. So, don’t put all the light cheeses together. Break it up with the meats and other items. If I want to step it up a notch, I add a sprig of rosemary (or any herb of your choice would work) to add some fresh greens. You can go as big, or small as you want with this. When I host our annual Thanksgiving open house, I go with a larger round board. If it’s just a couple of friends on the patio, I may use a small marble board. That’s the beauty of charcuterie; it’s so versatile!

So, fear not next time you’re racking your brain on what to serve/bring to your next gathering. Just throw a beautiful charcuterie board together and you’ll be golden!👌(Another easy crowd-pleaser is this delicious lemon pie I posted here!) Do you have any go-to items you use on a charcuterie board? Let me know! I’ve linked a few lovely boards and some cheese knives below.

One response to “How To Create An Easy Charcuterie Board”

  1. What a beautiful job. I’m so proud of you! Even the sunroom was gorgeous! OK, so now when do we get invited over for a bite?

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