Festive Fall Charcuterie and Cheese Board
So the leaves fell pretty early this year, they were spectacular around the 3rd week in September here in the Whites, but the foliage didn't hang around for long. With our hectic schedule, we managed to still fit in some beautiful hikes to take it all in....and it never gets old, even when you live up here...the foliage season is always such an awe inspiring time and definitely a time for reflection and solitude in oneself. At least that is what I think. They call it the "hush of autumn" and it couldn't be phrased more perfectly. This time of the year is not only for reflection, but for good books, wood stove fires, switching up the white wine to red and for simple charcuterie and cheese boards to accompany that ole' classic Halloween movie that you watch year after year.
When you say charcuterie board, most people think it's kind of a "fancy" appetizer board for the holidays or entertaining but it's actually such a simple plate really, an easy dinner alternative, it's almost a deconstructed sandwich really...think cold cuts, some salami, pickles, crackers, crusty bread, condiments and cheese...everything you would pile onto a sandwich. Simple meat and cheese boards like this are wonderful for picking and nibbling while sipping on that glass of red with a good book in hand. So yes, charcuterie and cheese boards can have aged parma ham and foie gras and stilton but they also can have deli ham, gherkins, some mustard and crusty bread and still be just as delicious, appetizing and inviting. So with that, we are keeping it simple with this one...get yourself some aged cheddar or plain cheddar, a simple block of Swiss cheese, a French baguette, Soppressata or salami, ham, crackers, gherkins, our Southern Style Rustic Mustard and Triple Ale Onion Jam Spread and enjoy.
Festive Fall Charcuterie and Cheese Board
Ingredients: This is a very casual meat and cheese platter and can be adapted to what you have on hand or what you prefer for charcuterie, breads, crackers, etc.
French Baguette cut into slices (or any artisan bread you want - sourdough, ciabatta, etc.)
Soppressata slices (or salami or dry cured sausage - whatever you prefer)
Prosciutto or shaved ham or any cold cut - I had prosciutto on hand so that is what I used for this board, but I actually think I would have preferred a thinly sliced pastrami or shaved cooked ham for this one...or even thinly sliced roast beef.
Gherkin pickles - you can also used pickled veggies such as pickled green beans, pickled carrots, cauliflower, olives or pickled red cherry peppers
Crackers - whatever you have on hand, I used simple grocery store Toasted crackers.
Aged Cheddar - I used our local Harman's Aged Cheddar which is 2 miles up the road from us and so so good!
Swiss Cheese - A block of Swiss cheese cut into slices
Butter - If desired for your French bread slices
Wozz! Southern Style Rustic Mustard
Wozz! Green Tomato Jalapeno Spread (not featured)
Arrange your board with bread slices (toasted or untoasted whichever you prefer), crackers, sliced cheeses, sliced deli meats, Soppressata, pickles, Wozz! Triple Ale Onion Spread and Wozz! Southern Style Rustic Mustard. Serve.
Enjoy!
