When it’s too hot to cook, serve up this stunning and versatile summer charcuterie board!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Albertsons Companies. The opinions and text are all mine.
It’s summertime. We’re busy. And it’s hot. Which means there are many nights that I do not feel like making dinner.
I am always looking for no-cook dinner ideas. And the less time spent in the kitchen the better! One of the ways to do this to create a summer charcuterie board.
While charcuterie boards are usually presented at a get together or an adult party, there is no reason why you can’t make one that kids will enjoy as well! Our boards always have a little something for everyone.
Another reason why I love putting these charcuterie boards together? It’s a great way to use up what you have in the fridge! You can take the leftover deli meat and cheese, cut up veggies and fruit, and your favorite snack crackers to create a full meal for the family.
So how do you put your own summer charcuterie board together? Just follow my simple steps!
How to Create the Perfect Summer Charcuterie Board
Pick a base.
You can use any base you have laying around the home: your favorite cutting board, marble slab, or tray. All you need is large, flat board. If you are marking a board for the entire family, you need a pretty large board because your ingredients will pile up!
Go-to Ingredients.
One of the reasons I love putting charcuterie boards together is that you can literally use whatever you want! There are a few staples that you can build upon for your boards.
Cheese – You have to have good cheese on our board! I picked a variety of Primo Taglio® cheeses for this summer charcuterie board. Primo Taglio products are made with the finest ingredients featuring a wide assortment of items, and are available in Philadelphia area exclusively at ACME Markets stores.
You can also find these exclusive products at all Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Supermarkets and Carrs/Safeway.
Meats – If you don’t know where to begin when it comes to meats, look for an Entertainment Tray already put together for you! I grabbed the Primo Taglio Entertainment Platter as the base for my board. It came packed with White Wine Salame and Salame Calabrese along with Mozzarella cheese. Many of the Primo Taglio meats use whole muscle meat with no binders or fillers!
To make our board family-friendly, I like to include things that both the kids and us parents will love. I like to mirror these choices on the board. For example, Mom and Dad will love the Primo Taglio Prosciutto Roll. But the kids? Maybe not.
So across the way on the board, you will find a ham and cheese roll-up made from Primo Taglio Ham on the Bone and classic American cheese!
Crackers – You need a vehicle for your meats and cheeses! This is where you can load up on family favorites like Pita Crackers, bread sticks, sliced baguettes, and even pretzels crisps.
Fruits and Veggies – Load up on your family’s favorite fruits and veggies on your charcuterie tray. I know if put the fruit and veggies out for the kids, they will fill up on them! It’s easier to make good choices when they are readily available to you.
Fillers – I like to fill in the gaps with trail mix and nuts. Look for seasonal blends, like a Summer Trail Mix, to go along with your summer theme!
Charcuterie Assemble.
While there are some rules when it comes to assembling your charcuterie board, it’s ok to just go with the flow as well. I like to start with putting my crackers in the corners and pairing them with a meat and cheese. Once my corners are filled in, I alternate with fruits and veggies, more cheese and meat, and even more crackers! Then you can take your trail mix and fill in the gaps!
Don’t forget the toothpicks! With many hands on the board, toothpicks keep fingers off the food!
And there you have it! A quick and easy Summer Charcuterie Board that will take minutes to put together.
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