Oh, Darling! Here’s how to build the perfect charcuterie
A not all that surprising fact about me if we’ve ever enjoyed a meal together: I’m a picky eater. While my tastebuds have drastically changed over the years, I’ve developed a handful of very strong opinions that will forever hold true:
Queso is in fact, considered a full meal. Cereal tastes better at night. There is a time and a place for fruit in ice-cream: never and in the trash. Eggs are best in the Reese’s variety. I will under no circumstances eat a green bean. It doesn’t get any better than a peanut butter and honey sandwich, and crunchy Cheetos are superior to any other chip.
One meal I can get behind any day of the week, is a lovely charcuterie spread. In fact, this is one of the things my Instagram pals ask about most. Let’s break down the specifics shall we? There is no exact science to this, I’m all about a good smorgasbord where literally anything goes. Truth be told, I keep 98% of this stocked at all times, so I literally just drag it all out and make it look nice. Trader Joe’s is the perfect one-stop shop for all things charcuterie, and honestly, I black out in sheer excitement every time I visit. Here are a few of my must haves, all can be found at TJ’s or your local grocery store:
Cheese: Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar, gouda, asiago, manchego, blueberry vanilla goat cheese, pepper jack or some sort of a spicy option.
Bread/Crackers: french baguette, ritz, whole wheat crackers, cheddar cheese straws, pretzels, sweet potato crackers
Spreads: pimento cheese, everything but bagel greek yogurt dip, buffalo chicken dip, pepper jelly
Salty: turkey summer sausage, dill pickles, olive tapenade, pimento stuffed olives, plantain chips, dry roasted cashews, raw almonds
Sweet: strawberries, apples, dark chocolate, grapes, pineapple
Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir all day.
The best part about making a charcuterie spread is making it YOURS. Having a movie night? Pop the corn and pile on the snacks! Need to add some veggies? Go for it! Making it festive? Add some greenery! Need a brunch idea? Line up the pancakes and fruit! The possibilities are endless, here are a few of the spreads I’ve put together recently:
More importantly, you can’t have a solid cheese spread without the proper accessories! These have my formal stamp of approval, and are the same items used in the above pictures! Click on the images below to shop my exact products!
Current summer wish list: turn my kitchen island into a monster charcuterie board that will feed approximately 67 friends. Unfortunately for me I don’t have that many friends, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge. Who’s ready to bring their appetite and make all of my dreams come true? Say cheessseeeee!
Yours Truly,
J
