Description
Create a stunning holiday cheese board with a selection of cheeses, meats, and accompaniments, paired perfectly with wine for a festive appetizer experience.
Ingredients
Units
- 4 oz Tikler Old White Cheddar cheese per person
- 4 oz Fontina cheese per person
- 4 oz creamy Brie cheese per person
- 2 oz sliced meats per person (salty, spicy, smoked)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 cups cranberries
- 2 tbsp sliced ginger, in big chunks
- Onion and Fig Jam
- Maple Roasted Pecans
- Sugared Ginger Cranberries
- Pickles
- Honey
- Olives
- Nuts
- Oat and Cranberry Rainforest Crisps
- Rosemary Raisin Pecan Rainforest Crisps
Instructions
- Prepare the sugared ginger cranberries: In a small sauce pot, combine 1½ cups sugar, 1½ cups water, and 2 tbsp sliced ginger. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool slightly. Add 2 cups cranberries to the syrup and let them soak for at least 1 hour. Drain and roll the cranberries in additional sugar to coat.
- Select a variety of cheeses: Choose 4 oz per person of different types of cheese such as Tikler Old White Cheddar, Fontina, and creamy Brie. Aim for a mix of flavors and textures, such as hard, soft, or blue cheeses.
- Choose accompaniments: Select 2 or 3 complementing flavors like pickles, jams, honey, olives, and nuts. Include Onion and Fig Jam, Maple Roasted Pecans, and Sugared Ginger Cranberries for variety.
- Include sliced meats: Provide 2 oz per person of meats with different flavors like salty, spicy, or smoked. Two different kinds are sufficient.
- Select crackers: Choose mild-flavored crackers or interesting options like Oat and Cranberry Rainforest Crisps and Rosemary Raisin Pecan Rainforest Crisps.
- Pair with wine: Follow pairing tips such as tannic red wines with aged cheeses, sweet wines with salty cheese, and crisp whites with fresh cheeses.
- Set out the cheese board 1 hour before serving to allow the cheese to reach room temperature. Pre-slice the cheese into wedges or strips to avoid mess and make it easy for guests to serve themselves.
Notes
Set out the cheese board 1 hour before serving for optimal flavor. Pre-slice cheese to avoid mess. The sugared ginger cranberries can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Use the leftover syrup for a cranberry ginger cocktail.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 12
- Cholesterol: 40