We recently had house guests and I wanted to make sure they had a yummy snack after their flight and long drive. This was the perfect arrangement of easy to set out food but something delicious that made an impression. Even if you aren't an extravagant cook, you can totally do this. It's beautiful to boot!
What are we looking at here: (left to right)
Grapes-separated into easy to handle small clumps
English Cucumber Slices
Peppered Salami
Chevre-goat cheese (I like Trader Joe's silver label, but costco has some good chevre too)
Slices of prosciutto
Fuji apple thinly sliced and tossed with lemon
I served this with a medley of crackers on a plate next to this one.
I placed things in groupings that compliment each other. The French often eat cucumber slices with salami and prosciutto pairs nicely with fruit. I normally would do melon along side the prosciutto but due to them not being in season I opted for apples. Most of you probably know this but tossing apples in lemon helps lessen the browning process.
Since I can't see myself catering anytime soon, I will share a trick I have discovered. Anytime you are serving a hunk of cheese where people may help themselves, whether it be a wedge of Brie or a big piece of Point Reyes Blue, you want to take your cheese knife and dig into it a little. This invites people to go for it. No one ever seems to want to be the first one to dig the knife in, so its just easier if you do it for them. As you can see, I did this in the picture above, it wasn't for show, that's just how I do it because I know better.
The only work this involves is slicing the cucumber and apples and maybe cutting down the grapes into smaller clusters. I just use my kitchen scissors and snip them up. See anyone can do it, and your friends will be impressed.....and you just say "why thank you".
You are welcome!
xoxoxo
Heidi
Why thank you!
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