Raise your hand if you love a good cheese board!! Boy do I love a gorgeous cheese platter. I eat these for dinner by themselves sometimes, but they are the most perfect appetizer. I think there is something for every palette on a well balanced cheese board. Even though cheese boards are fairly simple and really don’t require cooking, they always scream celebration to me. If I have guests coming, this is one of the first things I think to make. Follow my simple guidelines and put your own twist on the next cheese board you share with your friends and family. 

Step 1: Pick the cheeses

• I like to choose three cheeses that are all very different from one another. In the cheese board pictured I chose a goat milk, sheep milk, and cow milk cheese. You can also pick them based on texture and flavor. Make sure to have variety- this makes the board appealing to a broader base of guests.

Step 2: Pick the accessories to the cheese

• I always like to have a jam, jelly, or honey on my boards. The sweetness is such a good contrast to the savory cheese. Fig or apricot jam or pepper jelly are some of my favorite choices. On the featured board I used Quince paste in place of a jam or jelly and it is delicious.
• Nuts are a great texture change for a cheese board. Cheese is relatively soft and nuts add a nice crunch. Candied or not candied- they will enhance the board. Here, I used raw walnuts.
• A dried fruit like dates, figs, or apricots are a sweet and fun treat that is a wonderful compliment to many cheeses. Dried cranberries are featured here.
• Add something salty or briny to the mix to pack that umami punch. Prosciutto, salami, and olives are some of my favorites. On this board, I picked a chianti dry salami and olives.

Step 3: Pick the cracker or flatbread

• Never choose a flavored cracker. It will take away from the flavor of the cheese. I always pick a cracker that is lightly salted. For this board I used an 8 grain and seed butter cracker.

Feel free to get creative with this! It is fun to put your own twists on the cheese board. I recommend always having a white and a red wine when entertaining with cheese as well so that there is something for everyone. I think having a non-alcoholic drink on hand is important. I like to have sparkling cider or flavored sparkling water so that the non drinkers still feel like they are included in the festivities.