How to Make a Simple Cheese Platter - Southern State of Mind Blog by Heather

Happy Friday! Our weekend took an unexpected turn since some of our family from Florida evacuated to our house late Wednesday night. Although we are glued to the TV for Hurricane Matthew updates, we are embracing the impromptu family weekend! As you know, I spent a few weeks down at the beach this summer at my parents beach house, and their home is right in the heart of the action.

The timing of today’s post is perfect, because I think a simple cheese platter is the perfect thing to keep on hand for impromptu entertaining and house guests. It can be assembled in minutes and I am pretty sure I have never met anyone that doesn’t like cheese. Lately when the Big Sweet and I go out to eat, if there is a cheese and charceuterie platter option on the appetizer menu, we literally can’t order it fast enough. We love getting different local varieties and as soon as it is brought out, we gobble it up. So when we entertain at home, it’s been fun to set up fun cheese and charceuterie platters for our friends and family. Well, that is, assuming we don’t eat it all up before they arrive. #guilty

This really is the perfect and easiest appetizer to have out when guests arrive, and I think it is a great thing to have in the arsenal with the holiday season coming up.

Now listen, I am not all fancy and barely qualify to even write this post. When it comes to cheese I am no expert. But that is kind of the beauty, I don’t think you can go wrong. It’s fun to explore and test things out.

Here are my tips:

First up, find a suitable cutting board. I like to use a smaller to medium size because it is easier to fill up. The one I am showing here I made using chalkboard paint and a simple cutting board.
Find a couple classic cheese that anyone will like. For us, it is Palmetto Pimento Cheese and Alouette. Both from our grocery story- basic stuff. If you are a Costco member, another favorite is Bourgogne and is a great value- I think it’s around $11 for that big chunk.
Then add a few new ones. I just explore the cheese aisle and grab something that looks good (or is on sale).
Then I add whatever I have on hand- grapes, pickles, jellies, honey…
Of course, you then need some crackers or bread.

The options for building out a cheese platter are truly endless.

Cheese Platter Ingredient Ideas

Cutting board or platter
Various Cheeses
Charceuterie (Costco has a great prepackaged option)
Grapes
Sliced Deli Pickles (the ones I show are just sliced dill Claussens, but sweet Gherkins would be great too)
Deli Mustard (Love the Boar’s Head kind)
Local Honey
Local Jams and Jellies
Hot Pepper Jelly
Strawberries
Craisins
Almonds
Crackers & Fresh Breads

Wouldn’t this chalkboard cheese platter be a fun thing to bring to a party if you are bringing an appetizer? Then you could leave it for the hostess as a hostess gift. My chalk penmanship is not the best and I am definitely wanting to invest in a chalk pen because I think this would have been much cleaner. But I don’t think my husband really minds the way my chalk penmanship looks because we managed to polish off this plate in one evening.

We are pretty much obsessed with these crackers from Whole Foods, but they are pricey so it’s a splurge. I suggest just walking down the cracker aisle at your grocery store and find something that looks good. Remember, simple is fine! That is kind of the whole point.

OK, now I am craving cheese! Hope you have a good (and for anyone down south SAFE) weekend!

xoxo-

Heather

Day 1: {Style Inspiration} Casual Fall Weekend
Day 2: A Touch of Home Fall Tour
Day 3: DIY Welcome Mat Tutorial- Come In + Cozy Up
Day 4: DIY Pheasant Feather Art Tutorial
Day 5: {Tailgate Bites} 3- Ingredient Crescent Sausage Squares
Day 6: Fall Capsule Wardrobe
Day 7: How to Make a Simple Cheese Platter