If I could eat only cheese and crackers (with some wine) for dinner every night, I would. Who doesn’t love a charcuterie board? Even just putting some cheese and veggies on a plate before dinner makes things feel a little fancier somehow. I have found that when I put cut up veggies or fruit on the counter, everyone seems to eat it. If I told my boys to get an apple out of the fridge no one wants it, but if I slice it and put it out—it disappears.
I love to make boards, and not just for happy hour. I have made dessert boards, breakfast boards, and, of course, appetizer boards. This is a great way to use up leftovers, or if you have just a small amount of something left. The end of a loaf of bread is not enough for the family for dinner, but cut up on a board with some cheese, hummus, nuts, and the bottom of a box of crackers, it looks purposeful.
A breakfast board is one of my favorite things to do on the last day of a vacation. All the fruit in the fridge, the last few frozen waffles cut into quarters, and a bowl with scrambled eggs placed on the same board is now a breakfast feast instead of leftovers.
A board-style dinner is great for hot nights when you don’t want to turn the oven on or stand in front of the grill. It’s a nice way to eat as a family too—just place the board in the middle of the table and let everyone choose what they want. As I said in the last issue—allowing children to have control over what goes onto their plates improves their food choices.
Another idea is to use the board to build each person’s plate. You can set each place setting with a big bowl of greens, or rice, pasta, etc.… and then have the “toppings” on the board.
You don’t have to make flowers of salami to make a board look appetizing.
A FEW RULES MAKE THE PRESENTATION APPEALING:
1. Keep everything roughly the same size. Cutting cheeses, meats, and fruit into roughly bite-sized pieces helps. 2. Have some variety in colors. 3. A few small dishes with dips, sauces or nuts are appealing. 4. Have fun and keep it simple!