This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own.
Easy cheese platter ideas will come in handy anytime you’re in charge of the party appetizers. It was my turn to host book club and, of course, I was running late and didn’t have time to cook or bake anything. Meat and cheese plate to the rescue! All I had to do was pick up a few simple groceries and a baguette from the bakery.
A meat and cheese plate is simple to put together. There’s no right or wrong way to do it because a variety of tastes is what it’s all about. The main tip to remember is to pick meats and cheeses that complement each other. I usually try to include one or two meats and two or three cheeses. For my latest book club cheese plate, I picked Tyson® Gallo Salame and Pepperoni along with Mozzarella and Fontina cheeses to make a flavorful Italian-inspired cheese board. For the add-ons, I just started thinking about my favorite antipasto salad ingredients and included them (olives and pepperoncini peppers) on the board.
Cheese Platter Ideas
I am pretty brave about trying different foods, but I know a lot of my friends are not quite as adventurous. I kept that in mind when I was planning out a list of foods to serve on the meat and cheese platter. I felt like Salame would be a safe, yet delicious choice for my book club appetizers. Plus it went along perfectly with my Italian food theme.
Tyson® Gallo Salame is easy to find in the cold meats section at Walmart.
- 4 ounces Tyson® Gallo Salame
- 4 ounces Tyson® Gallo Pepperoni
- 3 ounces Mozzarella sliced or rounded balls
- 3 ounces Fontina sliced or cubed
- 1 Bread Baguette *Can substitute crackers
- 4 ounces Pepperonici
- 4 ounces Olives any variety
- 2 ounces Dried Fruit I used cherries.
- Arrange meats, cheeses, olives, and dried fruit on a large serving platter. Slice bread and serve on the side.
I usually serve my cheese plates from a large wooden cutting board. But, I was recently admiring a slate cheese board because I liked how you could write on it with chalk. That comes in handy when you want to label the meats and cheeses so guests can know what they are eating. I realized I could make my own slate cheese board using an inexpensive natural slate tile from the home supply store.
I bought a square slate tile for less than $2 and easily added a monogram using glass etching cream. It took less than 5 minutes total (not counting the 30 minutes I waited for the glass etching cream to do its job.) I am already planning to make more to give as gifts. I love how I can label the food items on the slate board using chalk.
DIY Monogrammed Slate Cheese Board Craft
Tools and Materials Needed:
- 12×12 Natural Slate Tile
- Glass Etching Cream
- Monogram Stencil *or any stencil you want to use
Directions:
1. Wash and completely dry the slate tile.
2. Attach the monogram stencil to the tile where you want it to appear.
3. Use a foam brush to apply a layer of glass etching cream to the stencil. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes.
4. Wipe off glass etching cream and wash off any remaining cream with soap and water. Allow tile to dry completely before use.
Next time you need quick and easy appetizers, remember how easy this one is to make with Tyson Gallo Salame. Check out More Exciting Recipes with Gallo Salame on Pinterest. Let me know, what are your favorite meat and cheese platter ideas?
Kristi says
That would be a great hostess gift to bring to a party. Platter and snacks!
Nicole says
That’s a great idea, Kristi! Thanks for stopping by today. –Nicole