As we enter the holiday season, it’s time to shore up our cheese board skills. Here are some ideas.
Mix it up. Create a range of flavors and textures from soft to hard and mild to sharp.
Add contrast. Flavorful breads thinly sliced or broken into smaller pieces can enhance contrast in both flavor and texture. For a simple solution, try serving breadsticks alongside brie, toma and pepper jack cheeses.
Be patient. Aged cheeses should come to room temperature before serving.
Enhance cheese plates with olives, nuts or fruit to add flavor and texture. Pears go well with blue cheese, Gouda and toma; olives with white cheddar and pepper jack; walnuts fit with Gouda and dry jack; and dried cranberries pair nicely with Cheddar, blue cheese and mushroom jack.
Consider portions. Estimate 1 to 1 1/2 oz. of each cheese per person.
Continental Cheese Board
- 1-2 oz. brie per person
- 1-2 oz. toma per person
- 1-2 oz. pepper jack per person
- Walnuts, breadsticks, fresh herbs
On cheese plate, arrange cheeses, almonds, crackers and cherry tomatoes.
Red, White & Blue
- 1-2 oz. Cheddar cheese per person
- 1-2 oz. blue cheese pp.
- 1-2 oz. mushroom Jack cheese pp.
Walnuts, dried cranberries, crackers, fresh apple slices
(Source: Family Features)