Right before New Year’s I bought an Antique Silver cheese board with a wooden chopping block from Pottery Barn. We originally thought we would use the board for entertaining, but we quickly realized that cheese, cured meats and fruit were our favorite after work snack. For the past few weeks we have been working through different cheeses to find the perfect mix for us, but here is a list of items you will frequently find featured on our board.
Brie: I love brie and I buy it in a wheel and then when I get it home I make a superficial incision across the top of the cheese separating it into 1oz wedges so that I make consistently even cuts. I take each 1oz wedge and then slice it as thinly as possible to give multiple servings of the creamy goodness.
Parmesan: We often buy a large wedge of good Parmesan cheese and then grate large slices off the wedge and serve it on our cheese board. Parmesan is a familiar grated cheese but it has a nice bite to it in a block which contrasts the softness of the brie. Also, its so easy to slice it thin that you get many slices from a small portion so it feels like your really indulging.
Sopressata: Growing up in a very Italian family meant that I got a taste for cured meats at a young age. As an adult, I get my fix of my favorite salami in a pre-cut version available from Boar’s Head that is so authentic I could swear I was at my grandparent’s house eating their home-made variety that they cured in the basement!
Prosciutto: Although its a little pricey, I find that buying half a pound very thinly sliced is an excellent investment in my quality of life. The taste of this salted Italian ham can cure all the ills of a hard day and a thin slice or two never hurt anybody!
Dates: I am a great lover of dates! I prefer fresh to dried, although they are harder to find and of course a little more expensive, but they are truly natures candy. I love the fancy Medjool variety because they are big and plump, but I never met a California pitted date I didn’t like!
Dried Cranberries: aka Crasins. I love dried fruit, but there is something about the tartness of a dried cranberry that is absolute magic and brings out the flavors of cheese and meat like no other. Plus, they are so full of antioxidants its hard to resist those little sweeties.
Walnuts: Recently, I discovered that my husband likes walnuts. Really, it was a surprise to both of us when I began using them in some paleo recipes I found on Pinterest. Ever since I have kept a large bag of them in the fridge and they are a great crunchy addition to the cheese board filled with heart healthy fats and oil.
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