Charcuterie Board
big block of manchego cheese from Costco 
trim off both ends and cut into 1/3rds 
like so 
take each 1/3 and cut into thin slices 
stack them up 
arrange them every other one for an easy grab 
cut your strawberries like so to make them look like hearts 
arrange fruits, nuts, cheeses, veggies, chocolate nuts, cheese straws, meats, all over a tray
- assorted cheeses: triple cream brie, Manchego and a cheddar or goat cheese are good ones to use.
- assorted fruits: grapes, blueberries, strawberries
- assorted meats: prosciutto wrapped string cheese, salami, pepperoni
- assorted veggies: cut up cucumber, sugar snap peas, carrots
- pomegranate seeds for on top of the goat cheese
- chocolate covered almonds
- assorted crackers
- fresh flowers if it’s for a baby or wedding shower
Pick the tray or platter that you are going to put the food on. Put down a piece of parchment paper to cover silver trays. Start by putting any small ramekins or bowl for place savers for nuts or jams. Then place like items horizontally from each other if it’s a large tray. There are no real rules other than it’s best to place cheese with the end facing in so it’s easier to cut into the cheese. Hard cheeses, you can cube or if it’s parmesan, you can make a pile of pieces. The key is making it beautiful to the eye and easy to access things. Make sure to include toothpicks for cubed or pieces of cheese. Put plenty of cheese knives and tongs on the board so that no one has to use their fingers. For nuts in the bowl, use a baby spoon to serve.
Have fun and get creative. Here are some other boards I’ve done:
Add Animal Crackers for whimsey on a baby shower board 
all veggie tray with Basil Hummus from Zoe’s Kitchen 
I gave this as a gift, board from Target 
