Anyone who knows me, knows that a good cheeseboard is probably my favorite thing to make! There is nothing like getting my creative wheels spinning and coming up with pretty boards for our guests to graze on when they come over! This is one of my favorite boards I’ve ever built. Don’t let creating a cheeseboard overwhelm you. I’ve built them on paper plates before! I’ll use anything as my canvas. Pick all of your favorite things and just get to creating!! There are no rules in cheeseboard building. The sky is the limit. Just have fun! I do have some tips for you though if you are new to the charcuterie/cheeseboard game. First, what makes the board a “charcuterie” board is one with meat on it. Most grocery stores have multi packs of different types of meats that you can purchase for your board if you wanted to add that. You can get super fancy and learn how to make roses and salami rivers with some fancy folding techniques if you head to youtube and search for those things. I like offering at minimum 3 cheeses on my board if it’s a party of 4. A hard/aged cheese like cheddar or my favorite manchego is a great option. A soft cheese like brie or boursin along with a stinky cheese like blue or goat cheese. All of these cheeses pair well with honey, jams and fun spreads you can find in your deli/cheese section of your local grocery stores. Place your cheeses on the board and cut a few slices to encourage your guests to partake. Offer a cheese knife at the board for additional slicing. Once you have your meats and cheeses on the board, it’s time to fill in with your spreads and crunch. I love a couple options of crackers, nuts and spreads. Once I have those in place, I’ll put some fruit on the board. Sometimes, I’ll even pop some chocolate on the board. On this board, I added some fun chocolate truffles and they were a perfect addition. I always love to finish my boards off with some fresh flowers for that beautiful pop of color. I like a focal point in the center of my boards as well. Sometimes it’s a bunch of grapes or a wheel of brie with a fresh honeycomb. This board features the cutest mini pumpkin I found in the produce section of my Kroger. I couldn’t resist it! It’s fun to build boards to match the seasons. Some tips on where to go for your cheeseboard supplies. Aldi and Trader Joe’s have a wonderful cheese section and cracker section. At the holiday time, Aldi usually has an end cap with all types of things for a cheeseboard. Give yours a check. If you have a Kroger, their stores carry Murray cheeses, which are the best in my opinion. You may be feeling overwhelmed with all of these options. Listen, there is nothing wrong with getting some precut cheese slices or cubes and throwing those on your boards. I’ve done it and will continue to. Cheese is cheese…LOL! However, I encourage you to branch out and try some things you’ve never had before! I just wanted to give you some ideas on what you can do for your holiday gatherings this year! It’s a great way to keep your guests busy noshing on some yummies while you’re running around the kitchen finishing up dinner. Another tip, place a couple bottles of wine already opened by the board so if they need a refill, they can take care of it themselves. I hope this long ramble provided some creative ideas for you to try building your own boards this year! If you make one, take a pic and tag me on instagram! I’d love to see your art😊