It can be difficult to feed a crowd while staying stylish – and taste great in the process! Going to our? A cheese and charcuterie board, perfect for sharing. To learn how to create a grazing board with all those boxes checked, we hit Sandy Coughlin, creator Reluctant entertainer and author of Large board for home to share an exclusive excerpt from the book with tips for creating healthy, wholesome charm boards to attract people around the dining table. Also, keep reading her recipe on how to make a chocolate sauce board.
A placard is the creation of the love you have for your family or loved ones because in a way the people who feed the people lead the people. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and ingredients can vary from type to species. Make it your own, use what you have and don’t take it too seriously. The aim is to bring people together in an idyllic setting, in a unique way.
I like to think of those sweet moments when I created a great board for family or friends and the look on their faces when they saw the board for the first time. The smiles on their faces and eyes aren’t just surprises — it’s about being loved, honored, and cherished. I am honored to be a part of your board and family dinner table!
EASY TIP, SAVE TIME
Find your inspiration
• Think of creating your board the way an artist approaches a blank canvas. Consider what will be the focal point, as well as the colors that stand out in the appropriate places.
• Serve a favorite family recipe and talk about why it’s important to you. Tell your kids about the history of the recipe and why it’s important to you — this will most likely be the first time they learn about your special story.
• Look at the changing seasons, inspired by the colors, flavors and seasonal foods, commonly found at your local farmers market.
• Let special events guide the way — think bridal and baby showers, tailoring, picnics, camping, backyard barbecues, pool parties, birthdays, anniversary celebrations dates, holidays, and more.
• Explore different regions of the world with your family and culinary cuisines. Read or watch programs about each country while enjoying its cuisine. Not only will you discover new ingredients and dishes, but you will also gain a better understanding of food’s connection to culture.
• For multi-generational gatherings, invite grandparents, aunts and uncles, or elderly neighbors to enjoy a table.
• Are you inspired by the table, but not the cooking process? That’s okay because with boards you can find almost anything in your local snack shop, bakery or farmers market.
Simple steps to spark your creativity
1. Plan your menu by writing down the recipes or taking pictures of the recipes in this book.
2. Search your pantry before you go shopping. You may already have some ingredients on hand or substitute something similar, saving your family money and time.
3. Know how many people you are serving; scale the size of the board by how much you are feeding.
4. Decide which ingredient or main dish will be the “star” on your table.
5. When you’re short on time, take a shortcut. Buy a rotisserie chicken, macaroons at the bakery or potato salad at the fast food joint. Not everything needs to be done from scratch.
6. If guests come, ask them to bring an aspect, or “wedge” to the table. You may think this is a burden, but it is not. We’ve seen how people love to contribute.
7. Prepare as much in advance as possible. For example, you can make the main course ahead of time and assemble the board an hour before serving.
Put it all together
1. Start with your focal point, then build around it. Place what you will be serving as your main dish in a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan, dinner plate or casserole dish; this keeps the space so you can see the table view and how to assemble the food around the board in the best way. Always use a heating pad or trident when placing hot food on the dining table.
2. Do you want to create a design? Play with the shapes and lines of your ingredients and dishes — make them straight, spiral, diagonal, triangular, or spontaneous!
3. Next, fill any small bowl with dips, spreads, jams, condiments or sauces.
4. Fill the rest of the table with seasonal produce, fresh herbs, crackers, chips and nuts — or simply leave it blank.
5. Always serve hot food last, right before serving. Keep leftovers warm in the oven and replenish as needed.
6. If you plan to refill perishable foods, store them in the refrigerator and refill as needed.
7. Lay out the dishes you will need to serve, with utensils and plenty of napkins.
OUTSIDE !!
For a fun night out, take it a step further and plan a family game, charades, or some fun conversation starter. Or how about eating and watch a movie together? Serve the table outside or take it with you going picnic.
Simple conversation starters:
• What is your middle name and how did you get it?
• What was the first concert you attended?
• What is your favorite part of the day?
• What subject do you like the most and least in school and why?
• What job do you see yourself having when you grow up?
• Share stories about your kids when they were babies or toddlers.
• Share what your life was like when you were your kids.
• What is your favorite mom’s cooked meal? What about dad? (This is a fun one and may lead to some future board ideas!)
• What is one of those foods that you won’t eat and why?
• Who is your favorite family member outside of this family?
• Five years from now, what do you think you will do?
• What is your favorite app on your phone and why?
• What is your favorite movie and why?
How to make a Chocolate fondue board
Raise your hand if you too have a drawer in your kitchen just for chocolate — I definitely do. Obviously, I’m a shameless fanatic of any form of chocolate—a simple bar, Nutella spreadable, or melted flourless chocolate cake. Chocolate pairs well with literally anything (hello, bacon and chips), which is why I made this board. You can gather your favorites, maybe dip your chocolate on a dessert board to please everyone. If you’re running out of time, you can buy anything but the marinade.
TIP: Make the marinade in advance and store in the refrigerator. Just before serving, cook over low heat or in the microwave at 50% power until warm.
Keep scrolling down to find the recipe!
