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Looking for an impressive, yet an uncomplicated way to serve ready-to-eat finger foods to your guests? If so, then you should consider creating a charcuterie board. Simple. Easy. Festive. Delicious!
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First of all, the word charcuterie (shar/kew/tree) is French. It refers to artisan-prepared smoked, dry-cured, or cooked meats. Some of the most popular of these types of meats are prosciutto, soppressata, chorizo, saucisson, mortadella, bresaola, and dry-cured ham (jamon).
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Along with gourmet meats, you’ll usually find a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, dips and sauces, cheese, crackers, nuts, olives, and pickles on a charcuterie board.
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As you can see in the picture above, I also added a couple of baskets of crackers on the side since I ran out of space on my charcuterie board.
Another wonderful aspect is that you can easily create a charcuterie board that suits a special diet, such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo, Whole30, low-carb, etc…
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There are unlimited options when it comes to charcuterie boards. Items such as a bamboo cheese board, a cutting board, a rustic serving tray, and a slate cheese board are most commonly used. Personally, I like to use a wooden serving tray that my son-in-law made for me (pictured above).
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When creating a charcuterie board simply gather your food items and artfully arrange them on the board. There really isn’t a right or wrong way to do it so just have fun and be creative.
For my family, I like to include thin slices of pepperoni and salami. I also like to include fresh mozzarella cheese wrapped in prosciutto, soppressata, or pepperoni.
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Raw, roasted, or seasoned nuts are always a great addition to a charcuterie board. For example, my mother contributed a bowl of her Sugar and Spice Pecans (pictured above).
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I also incorporate a variety of cheese on my board. My family seems to like Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, and Cranberry cheese. Other lovely cheese options are Brie, Gouda, Provolone, and Blue Cheese.
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Besides meat and cheese, I add sweet pickles, baby carrots, celery, snap peas, moon drop grapes, and shoestring potatoes to my charcuterie board.
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Finally, it seems that my family enjoys dining that features a grazing aspect. Therefore, rather than gorge ourselves on a huge meal we like to graze all day on an assortment of appetizers. For that reason, a charcuterie board is the perfect party food option for us.
Happy munching!
Linda
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