"Be My Valentine" Charcuterie Board

"BE MY VALENTINE" CHARCUTERIE BOARD

2/13/2020

For a romantic evening with your love, nothing is more fun and relaxing than a romantic Be My Valentine Charcuterie Board, personalized with all of your favorites. Perfect for picnics or quiet evenings in front of a roaring fireplace, or a quiet romantic weekend in a cabin tucked away in the north woods. A bottle of good wine, glowing candles, and we’re all set for a special night of relaxing and snacking!

"Be My Valentine" Charcuterie Board

Do you have a few favorite things that you like to tuck away just so that you and your sweetie can enjoy them together?

This is the time to bring out your favorite chocolates and other decadent treats - the ones that your little ones just won't appreciate! It seems like every year there are always a few new surprises that I'm able to find!

Perfect for a quiet night at home, perfect for a romantic picnic, perfect for enjoying with your special someone!

"Be My Valentine" Charcuterie Board

FOR MY "BE MY VALENTINE" CHARCUTERIE BOARD I USED THE FOLLOWING:

Trader Joe’s 3 Seed Beet Crackers (gluten free)
Keebler Toasted Harvest Wheat Crackers
Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Guggisberg Baby Swiss Cheese
Castello Gouda Cheese
Columbus Italian Dry Salame Sliced Deli Meat
Raincoast Crisps (Cranberry & Hazelnut Crackers)
Dove Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Hearts
Lindt Truffles – Milk Chocolate & Milk Chocolate Strawberry
Harry & David Chocolate Covered Cherries
Trader Joe’s Milk Chocolate Caramel Crunch Medallions
Trader Joe’s Raspberry Rose White Chocolate Bar
Fresh Strawberries, Raspberries & Blackberries
Fresh Rosemary (garnish & wonderful fragrance!)

"Be My Valentine" Charcuterie Board

"BE MY VALENTINE" CHARCUTERIE BOARD

For a romantic evening with your love, nothing is more fun and relaxing than a romantic Be My Valentine Charcuterie Board, personalized with all of your favorites. Perfect for picnics or quiet evenings in front of a roaring fireplace. A bottle of good wine, glowing candles, and we’re all set for a special night of relaxing and snacking!

"Be My Valentine" Charcuterie Board

INGREDIENTS:
The secret of a great charcuterie board is to find fresh flavors and textures that work for you and your family and friends. Mix and match your favorite cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts and condiments for something wonderful and unique every time!

CHEESE: a selection of 3 or 4 is the way to go. One cheese should be soft and creamy; another firm and aged, another flavorful, and another that is seasonal and different:

Mild & Creamy: Mini Babybel Cheese & Mini Babybel Gouda Cheese, Brie
Italian Favorite: Mozzarella Cheese, Gouda
Traditional: Cheddar, Swiss, Havarti
Spicy, Seasonal & Different: Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese
Flavored Cream Cheese

MEAT: a selection of 2 or 3 Italian sliced deli-meats is the magic number. Something spicy, something peppery, and something traditional:

Genoa Salame Panino (thin sliced mozzarella rolled with peppered salame)
Spiced Maple Candied Bacon
Ham Slices

SPREADABLES: a selection of 1 or 2 gives you a nice balance. Something with an edge – and another that is a simple surprise:

Roasted Pine Nut Hummus
Raspberry Honey Mustard
Fig Jam

NUTS & CHOCOLATES: you can’t go wrong here at all with a selection of 3. Something simple and roasted, another spicy, and something sweet – the perfect trifecta of favorites:

Ghirardelli Dark & Milk Chocolate & Caramel Hearts
Gimbal’s Cherry Lovers Heart Shaped Gourmet Jelly Beans
Cashews
Pistachios
Your favorite valentine chocolates & truffles

FRUITS & VEGETABLES: a selection of seasonal fruit and traditional vegies, both fresh and dried, gives you a nice balance and a burst of colors:

Red Grape Tomatoes on the Vine
Red Seedless Grapes
Fresh Blackberries
Fresh Strawberries
Fresh Raspberries

GARNISHES & CONDIMENTS: usually a simple selection of 2 or 3 rounds everything out – something sweet and something savory. I kept this board simple and garnished with fresh Rosemary, which smells SO GOOD and colorful fresh fruits.

CRACKERS & BREAD: a selection of 3 is the perfect amount – if you don’t have room on your platter, you can place them in a basket next to your board:

Cheddar Asiago Cheese Sticks
Mini Brioche Bread
Fire Roasted Tomato & Olive Oil Crackers
Butter Crackers

FAVORITE WINES: Pick a few of your favorites and you’ve got an instant party! For tonight, I sipped on my favorite Pinot Noir and he had his favorite craft beer.

FOR THIS BOARD I USED THE FOLLOWING:
Trader Joe’s 3 Seed Beet Crackers (gluten free)
Keebler Toasted Harvest Wheat Crackers
Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Guggisberg Baby Swiss Cheese
Castello Gouda Cheese
Columbus Italian Dry Salame Sliced Deli Meat
Raincoast Crisps (Cranberry & Hazelnut Crackers)
Dove Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Hearts
Lindt Truffles – Milk Chocolate & Milk Chocolate Strawberry
Harry & David Chocolate Covered Cherries
Trader Joe’s Milk Chocolate Caramel Crunch Medallions
Trader Joe’s Raspberry Rose White Chocolate Bar
Fresh Strawberries, Raspberries & Blackberries
Fresh Rosemary (garnish & wonderful fragrance!)

HOW I MAKE THIS:

Choose a nice solid cutting board or wooden serving tray to create your platter.
Assemble your favorites and place on serving board, starting with the cheese and meats.
I used a small cookie cutter to cut a heart out of the red wax on the gouda cheese. I also pre-sliced the cheese for this board.
Place any spreadables in small crocks to contain them on your board.
Wash and pat the fresh fruit dry; add fresh and dried fruits for color. If you’re serving fresh apple slices, soak them in Sprite or Seven-Up and pat dry so that they don’t turn brown.
If you serve olives or pickles, place them in tiny bowls so that they don’t roll around and flavor other platter ingredients.
If you don’t have enough room on your platter, place your crackers and bread selection in a basket.
Garnish with lots of fresh green and reds - fresh rosemary, whole cranberries, ripe pomegranates or pomegranate arils – the perfect garnish for a Valentine Charcuterie Board!
Add cheese knives, small tongs and small spoons next to the board along with appetizer plates and napkins.
Start with small amounts of each item – you can always refresh your platter as time goes by!

YIELD: Perfect for two!

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