Easter Charcuterie Board

EASTER CHARCUTERIE BOARD

4/13/2020

Treat your family and friends to a fun and relaxing Easter Charcuterie Board, filled with all of your favorite cheeses & meats, seasonal fruits and other fresh nibbles. Perfect for a lazy afternoon, a quiet evening or small gathering!

Easter Charcuterie Board

With all the Covid-19 craziness going on, we've been trying to enjoy our time together at home, and I've been stretching out our Easter celebration much longer than usual - but it's all good and I heartily recommend! Why cram everything into one day when you can enjoy for a week? We're looking for sunshine and smiles wherever we can find them!

Easter Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards really are such an easy way to entertain, whether it's a quiet evening for two, a small party on the deck with drinks, or a large celebration. It's so easy to scale your board up or down for whatever works for you.

Charcuterie boards are my favorite way to entertain!

Easter Charcuterie Board

EASTER CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Easter 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! For a great Easter Charcuterie Board, these are my recommendations – pick and choose your favorites!

CHEESE: a selection of 2 or 3 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. I used:

Mild & Creamy: Pesto Gouda, Cream Cheese with Onion & Chives
Aged Favorites: Guggisberg Baby Swiss, White Cheddar Cheese with Chive, White Cheddar with Cranberries
Seasonal & Different: Garden Vegetable & Sweet Basil Cheese

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

Genoa Salame Panino (thin sliced mozzarella rolled with peppered salame)
Sliced Ham or Dry Salame Deli Meat

SPREADABLES: a selection of 1 or 2 gives you a nice balance. Something with an edge – and another that is a simple surprise. To accompany my fresh berries and savory crackers:

Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Dip
Fresh Spinach Dip
Spinach & Artichoke Hummus
Roasted Pine Nut or Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

NUTS & CHOCOLATES: you can’t go wrong here at all with a selection of 2 or 3. Something simple and roasted, another spicy, and something sweet – the perfect trifecta of favorites. I used a few simple Easter sweet treats:
Irish Toffee

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Mint Squares
Frango Dark Chocolate Mints
Dove Dark Chocolate & Mint Swirls
Caramel Rolos
M&M Mint Candies
Pistachios

SWEET TREATS: In addition to chocolate and nuts, you can’t go wrong here at all with a selection of 2 or 3. Something simple, seasonal and fun for Easter!

Ghirardelli Sea Salt Caramel Bunnies
Gourmet Speckled Jelly Bird Eggs
English Toffee Chocolate Eggs

FRUITS & VEGETABLES: a selection of seasonal spring fruits gives you a nice balance and a burst of color. I used:

Seedless Red Grapes
Fresh Dragon Fruit – sliced & so pretty!
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!
I also used organic flowers & greens for an extra burst of green color

CRACKERS & BREAD: a selection of 2 or 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. I used our favorites:

Trader Joe’s 3 Seed Beet Crackers
Savory Onion Crackers
Raincoast Crisps (Cranberry & Hazelnut Crackers)

FAVORITE BEERS & WINES: Pick a few pints or bottles of your favorites for sipping. It’s all about the relaxing and nibbling!

HOW I MAKE THIS:

Choose a nice solid cutting board or wooden serving tray to create your platter. Your guests will be cutting cheese directly on the board so be sure to use something sturdy.
Assemble your favorites and place on serving board, starting with the cheese and meats.
Don’t slice up the cheese prior to serving – put out some simple cheese knives and let everyone cut off a hunk of their favorite, or a small taste of something new.
Purchase sliced meats for easy serving
Place your 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 don’t have enough room on your platter, place your crackers in a basket.
Garnish with lots of fresh green - fresh Rosemary, kale or curly butter lettuce, organic food-safe flowers & greens – the perfect garnish for an Easter 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 a party!

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