Day 14 of our Covid-19 Adventure has been okay. I think the further we go into this the easier it is getting. I guess it really is becoming “normal” which is a bit scary to me.
Before we did a full not going out for us we did a small shop to pick up a few what I am calling luxury items. Not things that we needed but rather things that we could use to make the time seem not so daunting and well boring. These are the things most people probably passed over in their rush to shop to get sustainable supplies. We bought a jar of roasted red peppers, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, nuts, specialty cheeses, spicy mustard, and Italian cured meats. Get where I am heading with this? Last night as I was trolling the pantry I thought some of these would make the perfect charcuterie board.
What is a charcuterie board? (pronounced shar-koo-tah-ree) It is basically a fancy spread of cured meats, pickles, jams, cheeses, and other accompaniments. It can focus on an area of Italy or France if you are really inclined but we tend to go for what we like and blends well together. You want a couple hard and soft cheeses, something sweet, something tart, cured thinly sliced meats and then items you can cut off pieces. You can add baguette slices, crackers, or bread sticks to your liking. Try different pairings and see what you like together. Salty versus sweet. Creamy versus hard. It is all up to you.
Verdict:
I have to say this was one of the most fun meals we have had in a long time. We were all sitting around the coffee table and recommending new flavor combinations to each other. Ooo, try the Granny Smith apple with the pimento dip. The raspberry all fruit with the blue cheese is amazing! It was fun. We talked and laughed. It felt normal for a little bit.
This can be a nice starter for a meal, a party platter, or a light meal for your family. I am just listing some of the items below you may wish to choose from. It is entirely up to you. Just try a few items from each catagory and if it doesn’t work try something else next time. You will eventually find what works for you.
If I am serving this as a meal I generally add a simple serve yourself green salad.
Here are just a few ideas for your own board. Feel free to add more in the comments and add and change to your liking:
Cheeses:
- Blue
- Goat
- Havarti
- Comte’
- Gouda
- Parmesan
Meats:
- Salami
- Sopresseta
- Pepperoni
- Wursts
- Ham
Nuts:
- Cashews
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Peanuts
Crackers and Breads:
- crackers – whole wheat, water, butter, etc…
- baguette slices
- bread sticks
Fruits and Vegetables:
- apple slices
- pear slices
- grapes
- roasted red pepper slices
- Giardiniera
- Pickles – dill or sweet, gherkins or slices
Spreads:
- all fruit jams and jelly
- pate
- cheese spreads
- mustards – honey, whole grain, Dijon, yellow
What's for Dinner Moms? 
Love this “stay in” casual meal. I used to do a kid friendly platter when the kids were little. Love the options you put together and just may have to pick up a few things when I’m out doing picking up “necessities” for the week. Happy Saturday! ❤️
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Hope you all are well! Enjoy it if you have a charcuterie!
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My daughters and I LOVE doing charcuterie!
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We decided we need to do it more often!
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For many years, this kind of meal was our regular dinner (when even not so nicely presented). When the kids were little I cooked for lunch and then did not want to spend the same time again for dinner. It was cool, not much stuff to clean… and I liked it. The kids not so much over time… lol.
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Lol. I think we all have those memories. Mine is of noodles and sauce. Bleck!
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Ah, yes! I also remember that on a Friday I always made fish sticks with fries… also that was something my kids got tired of after a few years… lol
Btw. I cooked the Skillet Chicken and Parmesan Rice this week. It was so so so good! Everyone loved it. Thanks for this fantastic recipe, Marci 💖
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You have been a model for normalcy in a crisis. That’s uplifting. 🌟✨💫
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Thank you! I am just going along trying to make the best of it.
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We all are. 💜
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What fun!
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It was! Thanks!
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This sounds like a fun meal!
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Thank you! I love fun and simple!
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We didn’t know we had a name for it; we love to do this when pears come in season. I usually make chicken salad and buy brie and pears and then we expand from there. My 13 y.o. son likes to be able to pick a fancy cheese we’ve not tried before.
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Now you can be fancy with it! Tell your family you are having charcuterie!
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