MY SECRET VALENTINE CHARCUTERIE BOARD

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

For a romantic evening with your love, nothing is more fun and relaxing than a romantic My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board, personalized with all of your favorites.  Perfect for a Valentine picnic or quiet evening in front of a roaring fireplace, or a romantic weekend in a cabin tucked away in the north woods. 

Now is the time to gather your favorite chocolates and other decadent treats - the perfect surprise to create and share with your special someone.  A bottle of good wine, glowing candles, and we’re all set for a special night of relaxing and snacking!

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

WHAT IS THE PERFECT WAY TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY?

When I think of Valentine celebrations, I think of sweets and treats that are old-fashioned favorites - unfussy, colorful, and maybe something new and even a little bit quirky!  Charcuterie or grazing boards are the perfect fit, because you can choose tasty Valentine-themed foods and serve them in a way that people can help themselves and come back for more.  The absolute easiest way to entertain!

And when you are planning a quiet celebration for just the two of you?  My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board is perfect for you and your special someone!

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

FOR MY SECRET VALENTINE CHARCUTERIE BOARD I USED THE FOLLOWING:

• Sweet Grape Tomatoes on the Vine
• Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese
• Genoa Salami
• Provolone Cheese Hearts
• Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel Duet Hearts
• Chocolate Dipped Fresh Raspberries
• Raincoast Crisps (Cranberry & Hazelnut Crackers)
• Godiva Dark Chocolate Hearts with Velvety Dark Chocolate Filling
• Chocolate Chip & Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
• Jelly Belly Rose Sparkling Jelly Beans
• Belgian Milk Chocolate Roses
• Vanilla Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
• Charles Raspberry & Pistachio Bark (with Ruby Cacao)
• Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Duet Hearts
• Chocolate Covered Fresh Strawberries​

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

HOW TO MAKE A GREAT VALENTINE CHARCUTERIE BOARD?

The secret of a great Valentine charcuterie board is to find your favorite treats - and to have a few surprises!  The goal is to assemble a board filled with texture and color that fits with your theme - be it something old-fashioned, something simple and new, something for young and old alike. 

​For Valentine's Day that means lots of fresh fruit and heart-shaped treats in red and pink hues.  It's easy to add Valentine chocolates, decorated sugar cookies, macarons or miniature cheesecakes, and chocolate-covered raspberries and strawberries.  There are no rules - just have fun!
​
​For My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board I used a hand-selected mix of some of our favorite store-bought treats and some homemade items too.  Mix and match your favorites for something wonderful and unique every time!

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

HOW TO KEEP A CHARCUTERIE BOARD FOOD SAFE:

• Some of the foods served in charcuterie require time and temperature controls for safety, particularly meats or seafood, dairy products (including cheeses), dairy-based dips or spreads, most cooked dishes, some fruits and cooked vegetables.
• When selecting meats for a charcuterie board, choosing packaged cured meats that do not require refrigeration and are okay to leave out for extended periods of time.
• If food packaging says to refrigerate, be sure to refrigerate any food on a charcuterie board after two hours if you're planning to nibble on it later. If you are going to throw out the remainder of the board at the end of the gathering, you can safely leave it out for up to four hours.
• I recommend placing small amounts of items on a charcuterie board and replacing them every couple hours – it’s easy to refresh a bowl or small platter and keep food safe and fresh.
• For seafood or dairy-based dips, you can place the food in a small bowl inside a larger bowl filled with ice to keep it chilled (you may even have a dip-server that allows for this).  Likewise, if you have a food item that is served hot, serving small amounts and re-filling as needed will keep the food hot and fresh. 
• Using the same utensils to select multiple items from the board can cause cross-contamination of allergens, which may impact guests with food allergies.  Placing separate tongs, spoons or toothpicks near each item will help prevent this.
• Keep seconds safe!  When serving a large group, you may want to provide a clean plates and single-use toothpicks for repeat trips to the board.

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

MY SECRET VALENTINE CHARCUTERIE BOARD

For a romantic evening with your love, nothing is more fun and relaxing than a romantic My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board, personalized with all of your favorites.  Perfect for a Valentine picnic or quiet evening in front of a roaring fireplace, or a romantic weekend in a cabin tucked away in the north woods. ​

My Secret Valentine Charcuterie Board

INGREDIENTS:
FOR THIS BOARD I USED THE FOLLOWING:
Sweet Grape Tomatoes on the Vine
Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese
Genoa Salami
Provolone Cheese Hearts
Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel Duet Hearts
Chocolate Dipped Fresh Raspberries
Raincoast Crisps (Cranberry & Hazelnut Crackers)
Godiva Dark Chocolate Hearts with Velvety Dark Chocolate Filling
Chocolate Chip & Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Jelly Belly Rose Sparkling Jelly Beans
Belgian Milk Chocolate Roses
Vanilla Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Charles Raspberry & Pistachio Bark (with Ruby Cacao)
Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Duet Hearts
Chocolate Covered Fresh Strawberries
 
EASY CHARCUTERIE BOARD IDEAS:
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
• Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Guggisberg Baby Swiss Cheese
• Castello Gouda 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
• Columbus Italian Dry Salame Sliced 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:

• Roasted Pine Nut Hummus
• Raspberry Honey Mustard
• Fig Jam
• Honey Comb with Honey

 
BAKERY:  you can’t go wrong here at all with a selection of homemade and bakery treats:

• Valentine Macarons
• Valentine Cupcakes or Mini-Cupcakes
• Valentine Sugar Cookies
• Individual Valentine Cheesecakes or Cheesecake Slices
• Cherry Hand Pies
• Valentine Whoopie Pies (Gobs)
• Valentine Krispie Bars
• Fruit Muffins

 
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 Duet Hearts
• Gimbal’s Cherry Lovers Heart Shaped Gourmet Jelly Beans
• 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
• Heart-Shaped Junior Mints
• Herry Kisses Milk Chocolate Meltaway Roses
• Cherry Heart Jellies
• Gimbal’s Cinnamon Lovers Heart Shaped gourmet Jelly Beans
• M&M Cupid’s Mix
• Sour Cherry Balls
• Conversation Hearts
• Jolly Rancher Jelly Hearts
• Cinnamon Lips
• Valentine Truffles
• Milk Chocolate Covered Dried Cherries
• Chocolate Covered Cherries
• Champagne Bubbles Gummies
• Maud Borup Strawberry Heart Gummies
• Jelly Belly Rose Sparkling Jelly Beans
• Chocolate Emporium Valentine Gummy Bears
• Lindt Truffles
• Godiva Dark Chocolate Hearts with Velvety Dark Chocolate Filling
• 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 (chocolate-dipped for Valentine’s Day!)
• Fresh Raspberries (chocolate-dipped for Valentine’s Day!)

 
GARNISHES & CONDIMENTS:  usually a simple selection of 2 or 3 rounds everything out – something sweet and something savory.  I usually keep boards simple and garnished with fresh Rosemary, which smells SO GOOD, and add colorful and seasonal 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
• Trader Joe’s 3 Seed Beet Crackers (gluten free)
• Keebler Toasted Harvest Wheat Crackers
• Raincoast Crisps (Cranberry & Hazelnut Crackers)
• Cherry Yogurt Pretzels
• White Chocolate Pretzels

 
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.
 
HOW I MAKE THIS:

1. Choose a nice solid cutting board or wooden serving tray to create your platter. 
2. Assemble your favorites and place on serving board, starting with the cheese and meats.  
3. Place any spreadables in small crocks to contain them on your board.
4. 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.
5. If you serve olives or pickles, place them in tiny bowls so that they don’t roll around and flavor other platter ingredients. 
6. If you don’t have enough room on your platter, place your crackers and bread selection in a basket. 
7. Garnish with lots of fresh green and reds – fresh fruits and rosemary, whole cranberries, ripe pomegranates or pomegranate arils – the perfect garnish for a Valentine Charcuterie Board!
8. Add cheese knives, small tongs and small spoons next to the board along with appetizer plates and napkins. 
9. Start with small amounts of each item – you can always refresh your platter as time goes by!
   
   

YIELD:  Perfect for two!

Original recipe created and posted February 2022 by Snowflakes & Coffeecakes.
 
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