Summer Grazing Board

“I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food.” - Erma Bombeck

Introduction:

I love food, I mean REALLY love it. Sweet, salty, airy, decadent. All of it. This is why when I see the word charcuterie I immediately have to shut my mouth to keep my salivation from embarrassing me. I am such a fangirl of the creations, I have even convinced my family our Christmas tradition now includes 2 or 3 boards.

There is nothing better than having endless opportunities to combine little random piles of cured meats, delectable cheeses, ripe summer fruits and salty and sweet condiments onto crunchy, yeasty bread type platforms. For this, I am a sucker and know conversationally I will only be able to speak Foodanese once I am 3 bites in with a glass of some heady red in hand!

Now, time to build your own Summer Grazing Board! Just follow these simple steps of choosing 2-4 from each list (depending on the size of your guest list) Add on the Bonus Summer Berry Sangria recipe below and you'll be the host that they toast!

1. Choose Your Board

It doesn't need to be super fancy pants but please, please don't use a dinner plate. SAVAGES! Find any shape platter, cutting board, wood slat and you are on your way. If you are making enough for a large party and don't have a big enough board, you can assemble some of your bowls and fruits around the board as an extensive of your edible art!

2. Meet your MEATS

When choosing meats for your board cured are the way to go. They will last longer on display than typical deli meats. Here are my faves:

1. Genoa Salami: Medium bite. Spice flavors of garlic, salt and pepper.

2. Proscuitto: Usually sliced very thin. A rich flavor and delicate sweetness.

3. Mortadella: Soft bite. Balance your board with this rich mellow taste and slightly smoky flavor.

4. Sopressata: Firm bite made with leaner, course ground meat. Bold flavor from spices and peppercorns.

5. Calabrese: (my fave) Firm Bite. Typically made with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and most often, red wine.

3. Glorious CHEESE

It's important to have a selection of different textures and flavor profiles within your cheese selections to allow an unlimited amount of flavor pairings.

1. Brie: the gold standard for many boards. Served as a triangle and can be topped with fruit or preserves. Buttery, velvety, nutty and earthy with a lush mouth feel.

2. Gouda: Smoked or not, Gouda has a sweet and mild flavor with a light tang. (add it to your next homemade mac and cheese for an otherworldly experience) Serve sliced or cubed based on your other cheeses. A variety of shapes intrigues the senses!

3. Cheddar: There are SOO many varieties but I recommend finding one with a flavor addition such as Mango, Blueberry or Cranberry. It adds a nice look to your board as well as an unexpected flavor twist! Serve in slices.

4. Havarti: So mellow! Havarti is wonderful as it is or in it's popular Dill variety. This is a good choice if kids will be around. It's simple flavor is tolerated by many palates. Serve as cubes.

5. Blue Cheese: A cheese that is either loved or hated. Check your grocer or cheese purveyor for Saga Blue. It is a delicately blue veined brie. Your Blue lovers will swoon! Serve as a triangle

6. Feta: A firm, salty crumble that pairs so well with sweet and savory flavors alike! Serve in a small bowl on the board or simply sprinkle a few small piles in between fruits!

4. Summer Fruits

Right now strawberries and cherries are in season here in Maine and soon blackberries, raspberries and blueberries will all be ripe for picking!

1. Blueberries

2. Strawberries

3. Raspberries

4. Blackberries

5. Cherries (make sure to have a cherry pitter nearby)

5. Carby Little Platforms

Crunchy, chewy, airy or dense. Dry, moist or crumb creating and crusty. Bready carbs are like little morsels from heaven. Alone or stacked with just about anything. Sign me up. For your board, you will want an array of textures.

1. French Baguette: Sliced 1/3" can hold up to any of the meats you choose!

2. Stoned Wheat Thins: A light wheat cracker excellent with ANY cheddar!

3. Crostini: Plain or flavored, they are crispy and airy.

4. Water Crackers: The perfect delicate round for brie and fruit!

5. Whole Wheat Crackers: Preferably Carr's brand. They are a solid cracker with a slightly sweet and nutty flavor.

6. Condiments and Bites

Sauces, dips, salty olives, sweet pickles, preserves. The options are endless and here is a hefty list of standards!

1. Honey or hot honey

2. Pickled Onions

3. Gourmet Mustard/s

4. Fig Jam

5. Lemon hummus

6. Olives

7. Almonds

8. Pecans

9. Macadamia Nuts

10. Dark Chocolate

11. Dates

12. Figs

13. Shortbread cookies

14. Pretzels

7. Flowers & Herbs

Edible flowers and green herbs add color and flavor. Make sure when choosing your selection that you don't choose opposing scents! Here is a list of my go-tos.

1. Basil

2. Mint

3. Curly Parsley

4. Rosemary

5. Arugula

6. Nasturtium

7. Pansies

8. Roses

9. Sunflowers

10. Violets

11. Hibiscus

8. ASSEMBLE!

Start by placing your meats and then cheeses on the board in sections that are equally separated with a "pretty" cheese in the center. The Brie is GREAT centerpiece if you buy a wheel! Add small bowls of your sauces/dips/preserves/bites into the outer spaces in between your meats and cheeses. Place fruit into remaining spaces and around your centerpiece. Place crackers and breads in the smaller spaces in between and finish with your flowers and herbs to fill in the tiny spaces left! Make sure to garnish around your centerpiece cheese. Take a photo and upload to our Facebook™ page to be entered into a contest for lunch on us!

Summer Berry Sangria Recipe

• 1 bottle sparkling white wine (such as Prosecco)

• 2 1/2 cups white cranberry juice

• 2/3 cup orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau)

• 2/3 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced

• 2/3 cup blueberries (Wyman's frozen Wild Maine Blueberries work great)

Mix all the ingredients together in a pitcher and serve chilled. Enjoy! 🍹