Fall marks the early start of the holiday(!) season. As the leaves change color and scarves come out from the back of the closet, gatherings move from the outdoors, in. Many start looking forward to all the entertaining that usually arrives with holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving, so plan ahead now to avoid last minute stressing over what to serve.
Seasonal Selections
Take advantage of the newly available cool-weather crops and pair them with rich, full-flavored cheeses, as Williams-Sonoma suggests. Pears, pomegranates, persimmons, and figs are all abundant at this time of the year, and are less conventional than the standard grape- or apple-and-cheese combo. Bright fruits add beautiful color to an all-white plate, while toasted nuts add a contrasting texture to the creamy, chewy, and juicy elements already present. If there will be children or picky eaters in attendance, add mild cheeses cut in the shape of fall leaves so everyone can get into the seasonal spirit.
Sporty Spread
Fall means football season, and tailgating is a way of life in some social circles. To lower the stress and planning of your outdoor menu, we’ve crafted an impressive cheese plate specifically for the occasion. The cheeses and accompaniments travel well and will keep at room-temperature, making this the perfect cheese plate for sharing. With a few spicy selections, you’ll only need a cool beer to keep you refreshed — but you won’t mind that, will you?
In With The New
Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), rolls around at the end of September this year. The holiday often features several symbolic foods like dates, pomegranates, or apples and honey (eaten for a sweet new year). The Kitchn featured a Rosh Hashanah cheese board that plays on many of the traditional foods used for celebration. The author explains:
This year, it occurred to me that Rosh Hashanah’s traditional apples and honey pairing would make the ideal base for a killer cheese board. Riffing off the holiday food duo, and inspired by Middle Eastern flavors, I swapped out the apples for pears, switched up the honey, and layered several other Mediterranean treats onto a board to make a beautiful cornucopia worthy of a holiday dinner — or any fall gathering.
Creepy Crawly Cheeses
Halloween will be here before you know it (do you have your costume yet?). Keep ghoulish guests happy and prep a spooky cheese plate ahead of time, but allow it to come to room temperature before serving. Just Flew the Coop presents a Halloween cheese board that is festive while still offering something that everyone will like. Blue cheese is eerie enough to stand on it’s own, while orange cheddar nails the color palette. Pumpkin butter adds a season-appropriate flair, but the real kicker is the cheesy “fingers” fashioned out of round mozzarella cheese sticks and crunchy slivered almonds.
Photo Credit: Featured image courtesy of The Kitchn
Alicia Hahn
Alicia Hahn excels at eating and enjoys writing, crosswords, and cooking (preferably with cheese). Originally from San Francisco, she moved to Boston for school and fell in love with the city (despite an annual campaign against winter). Her favorite place to be is the farmers’ market, where she finds weird and exciting ingredients to make or break her next meal.
