It’s Thanksgiving Eve, and that means all the mice are stirring in my house. My mom is cooking away in the kitchen while I have “Christmas with the Kranks” on (it’s one Netflix by the way!). I wanted to talk about one of my all-time favorite things- charcuterie boards! I first saw these meat and cheese trays popping up everywhere last holiday season, and I have made a few of my own since then. There are so many places to gather inspiration from, but I wanted to share my favorite charcuterie board resources and a few tips!
First, if you don’t know much about charcuterie boards, I would recommend following @thatcheeseplate on Instagram right now! It’s the best resource for finding all the inspiration you need, and she is constantly posting new ideas for all things meat and cheese related. I also always visit her website before making each board to refresh my skills. Her talent amazes me, and I can’t wait to buy her cookbook when she releases it next year.
When you decide to make a charcuterie board, the first thing that might surprise you is the cost. The types of meat and cheese that go on these boards is very expensive, and I would be lying if I said the price tag of a charcuterie shopping trip doesn’t make me do a double take each time. Another factor in the cost- the more delicious your ingredients, the more people will eat. I have made cheese boards with what I thought was plenty of servings, but it can go quicker than you might think when there are several people in attendance at your gathering. I have found a few ways to cut costs though! Here are some places I always make time to stop when I am putting together a board.
Trader Joes
TJ’s has a really good selection of interesting, affordable cheeses. I especially love their black pepper toscano parmesan! It’s so good. Their prices for goat cheese, parmesan, mozzarella and all types of cheddars make the boards much more cost efficient.
Costco/Sam’s
For one board I made, I had just happened to be going to Costco for other groceries that day and stumbled upon a pack of three different meats- prosciutto, salami and pepperoni. I think these are the three most universal meats to go on a board, and will please all your guests. I picked up this huge three-pack for $10! That’s a great price. While it”s usually inconvenient for me to go to Costco or Sam’s, if you can plan a few days in advance, this would be a great trip to make for the meat and maybe your crackers, grapes and nuts.
Food City
One of my favorite aspects of a charcuterie is olives. I could eat olives endlessy, and they really add a nice pop of color to the board. The best place to get fresh olives is an olive bar at a grocery store, and while your first thought might be Whole Foods or Fresh Market, I have actually found a great selection of affordable olives at several different Food City locations. This cuts down on the cost and allows me to get all the olives my heart desires.
Aldi
Okay, I have never shopped for charcuterie materials at Aldi before, but several people have recommended it to me. I have been there before, and I can see how it would be a good destination for cheaper meats and cheeses. If you try it out, let me know how it goes!
After purchasing all your ingredients, this is your time to get creative. If you don’t have a cheese board, a lot of people use cutting boards, and I think it looks so pretty. I have also seen many people use butcher paper laid out on a countertop! I always start by placing all my cheeses, then meats, then olives and other wet ingredients (in small bowls) and finally add in small things and garnishes like grapes, cranberries, nuts, fresh fruit, etc. The sky is the limit! I usually put the cheeses on the outer corners and place all the meats together on the board. One of my favorite techniques I picked up from @thatcheeseplate, was the salami river, which is a fun way to say you fold all the pieces of salami or prosciutto in halves and line them up in a curved line- the result is just too cute and creates a really fun arrangement on the board. I also like to mix in small garnishes all over the board to tie everything in together.
I could talk forever about different items to put on boards, but I really think the best way to pick up a board shopping list and other inspiration is to follow @thatcheeseplate ! Seriously, you will not regret it. If you make a cheese board, feel free to tag me or send it to my Instagram, @classicallygrace, so we can share all the cheesy love.
