I am SO EXTREMELY EXCITED about this blog post. For those of you who know me well, you know how much I LOVE making a cheese plate. I post a ridiculous amount of charcuterie spreads on my Instagram story (#charcutsunday). So much so that I received TWO beautiful cheese boards for Christmas (shout out Liv and Jess :D) because my loved ones KNOW my obsession with quality charcuterie.
If you are reading this blog post and thinking, “Who cares about a boring cheese plate?” I hear you. In fact, I used to feel the same way. BUT HEAR 👏 ME 👏 OUT. This isn’t just about cheese. There is so much more to it than that.
This is not just a charcuterie board. This is an easy way to spend quality time with people you care about. Doubt me? Read on.
“Cocktails”: the inspiration to Charcuterie Sunday
I had never considered myself a big cheese plate person. Sure, if I saw a cheese plate, I’d have a cube of cheese (or six LOL) but never really gave it a thought.
It wasn’t until my first visit to see my best friend Shannon’s / fiance Brendan’s family that I truly gained an appreciation for the power of the charcuterie board.
You see, charcuterie is part of their family DNA. Whenever 5 o’clock rolls around, it’s time for “Cocktails”. Wine is uncorked. Cheese is sliced. Sourdough pretzels and sleeves of crackers are spread. But most importantly, family is gathered around. This is prime family time. Everyone comes for the cheese, but stays for the conversation.
In the 2019 world of IPhones and video games, sometimes it’s hard to pull everyone away from the screen and into the family room or kitchen. For this reason, I immediately fell in love with the concept of a delicious charcuterie board acting as the signal to bring everyone together, and I knew right away that I’d have to bring this idea to my own family one day.
This is such an AMAZING tradition and one that I encourage you all to implement into your own family nights or gatherings with roommates. Next Sunday night, while everyone is preparing for the week ahead, take out a cutting board, lay out some cheese and crackers, and watch the magic happen ;).
CHARCUTERIE BOARD do’s and don’ts
Key components: 2 hard cheeses, 1 spreadable cheese, crackers, pretzels, cured meat
You DO NOT NEED really fancy cheese with names no one can pronounce. Fancy cheese is usually expensive, pungent, and realistically, who has gourmet cheese on hand?
Our two favorite cheeses are Monterey Jack and Fresh Mozzarella. Super easy. Super cheap. You can buy them from your local grocery store in the dairy section. Recently, we leveled up to also include Boursin Cheese (which is an affordable, spreadable semi-gourmet cheese available in different flavors. Our favorite is Shallot & Chives – SO GOOD)
NOR DO YOU NEED FANCY CRACKERS: Our favorites are Ritz Crackers(unbeatable) and Snyder’s Large Sourdough Pretzels.Saltines also sometimes make an appearance.
For a healthier charcuterie board: swap out crackers for carrots and add some Greek yogurt dip. Another way to supplement your cheese plate and avoid filling up on crackers is to add some nuts! Go crazy – peanuts / pistachios/ almonds are all great options.
PRO-TIP: If you are trying to stay healthy and don’t feel like drinking alcohol during Cocktails, that’s okay! The beautiful thing about Cocktails is that it’s not actually about the cocktails; it’s about getting everyone together. In fact, most Sunday evening when we do Cocktails at our house, we drink Sparkling Ice with our cheese plate.
Bren and I LOVE Sparkling Ice. We are a teeny bit addicted, honestly. The carbonation is so refreshing, the flavors are great, and there is no alcohol, sweeteners, added sugar or calories! So if you have to work early the next morning or are trying to keep your calories down, give Sparkling Ice or other fun drinks a try during Cocktails.
Must-Have Charcuterie Board Accessories
If you look closely at my pictures in this post, you will see the beautiful cutting board given to me by my friend Jessica. This board is made of wood and has Brendan’s name and my name carved at the top. SO CUTE! Perfect for serving charcuterie to our family and a perfect serving platter for guests.
Check out this link if you are interested in purchasing! If you subscribe, they give you 10% off!
! If you subscribe, they give you 10% off!
My sister gave me a BEAUTIFUL, marble cheese board as well that’s a little bit smaller. Bren and I use this whenever it’s just the two of us, when we’re not trying to get TOO aggressive with the cheese. It’s beautiful and SO fancy. Add a personal touch to the gift by monogramming the top left corner!
If you are interested in this charcuterie board, (these make great adult gifts), check out this link:
I hope you guys enjoy! Let me know if you give this idea a try (#CharcutSunday – get it trending!). I’d love to hear what you think!
Jade Govel says
I want to eat all of this right now and it’s 8:16am… LOL! you and this cheese plate are so fab!!!! <3
admin says
LOL I’m dying! Next girls night I’ll bring the charcuterie. <3 You are my inspo