Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The Great Cheese Plate

We've always been a big fan of the cheese plate.
It's the best appetizer but can also make for an easy light dinner too.
When we were in Bermuda and there was a cheese plate out each night at 5pm - it was a game changer; we were even more hooked! 

It makes for a great date night, girls night, happy hour, etc.
Pair the plate with a little bit (or a lot) of wine and you're good to go.

Especially this time of the year, it seems like having low-key nights on our deck is the only thing we want to do.
This takes probably less than ten minutes to prepare, you can do it WHILE you're drinking a glass of wine.


Making your own cheese plate is so simple.  
The possibilities are endless - we tend to stick to our favorite cheeses but we definitely want to check out more.

For just a date night - three types of cheese is plenty (and you'll be pleased with your leftovers!)
For a bigger group, it might be nice to add more of a variety.

We also like to have at least two types of crackers - usually this doesn't even revolve buying something new because our pantry is stocked and they last a while.

Another key item is some kind of fruit - strawberries are our go to right now (we can't get enough) but grapes, of course pair perfectly.  Apples and/or berries are a great alternative too.

We both are big fans of meat so salami is almost always used - sometimes the thin deli like pieces or sometimes a salami wedge (on this night we happened to have both in our fridge)

Recently, we've added some seafood too and have really enjoyed some large shrimp 
(with my spicy shrimp dip).


A cheese plate is also great for entertaining because who doesn't like it?  With a nice variety, there will definitely be something each person will like.  For a bigger group, it's always great to start with a spread, a soft cheese, a semi hard cheese and a hard cheese.  Then there are so many add on's you can fancy it up with.

{It's always great to label them too because I'll be the first to admit - just looking at a cheese display, I never know which is which!}


Favorite Cheese Picks:

Cheddar, gouda, any type of spread, brie, gorgonzola, parmesan

Great Additions:

Mixed nuts, french baguettes, other meats, olives, pears, honey or jelly, mini tomatoes


You tell me: What's your favorite cheese plate addition??  Any must trys?

23 comments:

  1. Girl, I'm a huge fan of cheese plates! There is something so deliciously sophisticated about something so simple, right? I do think a lot of people fail to have enough fruit or sweet on the plate, so I love your addition of strawberries! :)!

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  2. I think cheese is one of my major food groups LOL! I love going to trader joes and picking up different and new ones to try - great idea to put shrimp on there - such a fun addition! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  3. Yum! Looks so good. I love that you added shrimp. Great idea.

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  4. You had me at cheese. I LOVE CHEESE!! I love having fruit with it. And I've never heard of adding shrimp but I love shrimp so that's a great twist!

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  5. Yummmmm now I'm totally craving cheese! My favs are the same as yours, and cheers to drinking wine (or champs!) while preparing it :)

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  6. You had me at cheese! I'm a HUGE cheese lover. Have you ever had Young Manchego? It's by far my favorite cheese ever!

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  7. Cheese is pretty much my favorite thing ever. I could eat it all day, every day and never get sick of it. I don't even think I can choose just one as my favorite haha!

    <3, Pamela
    Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  8. I love, love, love cheese plates. They are such a perfect little appetizer for company - but also a great meal. Especially with wine. ;)

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  9. This is ridiculously helpful - I love me some cheese, especially an entire platter full of cheese, but I never know how to put my own together. I'll definitely be saving this for later as we start to host people for summer parties!

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  10. I LOVE a good cheese board! We would do the same thing all the time - next mixture of meats and cheeses on the balcony with a bottle of wine. It has definitely been what I am missing most since being pregnant. My go to's are always goat cheese, prosciutto and orange marmalade. Enjoy those easy summer nights!!

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  11. Yum, cheese plates make me so happy! We had one sent to our room each night when we were in the Bahamas, and now I'm hooked. My favorites are always the fruit and spreadable cheeses.

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  12. Christina you are speaking my language with this cheese plate!! I love a good plate full of cheese, crackers, meats & olives. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
    Kelsey
    www.thepeacockroost.com

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  13. I was at a party a few months ago that had an AMAZING cheese but I forgot to get the name of it. (I second adding labels!) It had a raspberry-like swirl in it that added the perfect amount of sweetness. I still can't get it out of my mind!

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  14. I love a cheese plate. I recently started to include pickled okra and pimento cheese for a Southern flare.

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  15. Cheese plates are the best. My mom often does veggies with hummus and then cheese and crackers and meat, sometimes some fruit. Michael and I are less fancy so ours are never quite as full!

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  16. I want to eat that plate of cheese right now :) yum. Maybe I will do that tonight with my hubby!

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  17. I love a cheese plate! I've always wanted to create one, now you've inspired me. New reader to your blog, I added it to my reading list!

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  18. Love your cheese plates! I'll have to remember this when hosting - my hubby loves cheese

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  19. A cheese plate is my staple for any date night or party! Any triple creme cheese is my favorite! Xo, Stephanie

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  20. Charcuterie or cheese plate night is one of my favorite stay at home date nights! Prosciutto and coppa are some of our favorite meats to add, and pecorino is one of our favorite cheeses as well.

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  21. Cheese plates are made often in our house - you can never go wrong with a cheese snack! We usually do cheese with meats and/or crackers, but I'm thinking we need to add some berries and shrimp like you did!

    Gouda, brie, muenster, and extra sharp cheddar are my faves. My mom had a dill cheese on Easter and it was to die for. (Which reminds me that I need to ask her where she found it!)

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  22. Once or twice a week, we do what we call "snack" night, when we each eat a few random small things instead of a regular dinner. This would be great for that. I like Parmesan cheese a lot.

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