Holiday hostess {Holiday Charcuterie like a pro}

Hello Y'all!

Introducing a new series I like to call Holiday Hostess. Where I will share tips, tricks, and little projects to add some Holiday magic to your home events this season! Whether you are having a Christmas dinner for four or a Holiday Bash for fifty, every occasion deserves a little extra attention. Maybe it's impressing your guest with a professional-looking charcuterie spread during the rival game, or homemade Christmas crackers for Christmas breakfast. Or it may be tips to help the chaos run smoothly. Little ways to share how much you love and care for your people this holiday season, and find that magic of the holiday spirit.

Starting today with the art of charcuterie. A selection of meats, cheese, pickled veggies, fruits, nuts, spreads, crackers, and accoutrements. Anyone can make one. But staying on budget and making a spread that has your friends asking, "Who is your caterer?" That's what takes it from just a board of snacks to a charcuterie.

Where to Shop & What to Buy

The best budget places for a traditional savory spread are Aldi's and Trader Joe's. Aldi's is the best for meats, variety pack crackers, and even has a great selection of cheese. Their honey goat cheese is my personal go-to! Trader Joe's has a wider selection of more unique jams, pickled veggies, and cheeses. However, for those of us who have to drive almost two hours to Trader Joe's, you make a great spread without the trip. Level up the charcuterie board by adding seasonal and/or local items, like pickled okra or winter strawberries from McLeod Farms. And personalize the board with homemade jams from your garden or a specialty item from a recent trip, like my favorite bee pollen.

When shopping, it can be overwhelming to fill a shopping cart that has a balance of variety and cohesiveness. The key is to think about flavor and texture. You need a mix of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory, plus a variety of textures to add interest to the bite. And remember, it's a time to have fun with food; your guests will be creating their own bites, so don't be too worried about every element working together. No one makes a one bite of every item at the same time, haha. However, I will cover in the next section about sectioning off certain stronger flavors.

Building the Board

First, to build the board, you have to have said "board". You don't have to go out and buy a fancy charcuterie board to make a charcuterie spread, but you need to have a plan for how you are displaying your spread. You can use a cake stand, tray, or even parchment paper on your island.

Start with crackers and build yourself walls within sections, almost like the suggested pairing zones. Also, depending on the size of the display, put out enough to fill the board, but fight the urge to add the whole box of crackers or every strawberry. As the hostess, you need to keep an eye on the spread and restock as needed. After the crackers, add any jars or ramekins. Ramekins or small bowls are key. So many charcuterie spreads are tainted by pickling juices and marinated mozzarella balls. The stronger flavor takes over the board quickly as it bleeds into the surrounding areas. If you don't want your sweet honey goat cheese tasting like pickled okra, place the pickled okra in a ramkin or (if the jar isn't too big and bulky) leave them in the jar with a serving fork. Then fill in the empty spaces with the cheeses, meats, nuts, and fruits. Side note: due to the nature of charcuterie, nothing is allergy-safe, even if individual items are. If someone coming to your gathering has a food allergy, leave that item off the board completely, like nuts.

In this picture, you can see I didn't follow my own rule about ramkins... I regretted it. Do as I say, not as I do.

Have Fun

Sure, charcuterie is traditionally viewed as a savory snack board, but it doesn't have to be! Make a dessert board for Christmas Eve hot cocoa night! It's all about creating a spread of little bites. Use it to elevate your buffet this holiday season.