How to make a great look cheese platter
cheese platters
To fully appreciate a cheese’s flavour, aroma and texture, never serve it cold. Take it out of the refrigerator an hour or two before serving – less, in very hot weather – to allow it to come to room temperature (17ºC is ideal).
A classic platter usually includes:
- Soft cheese, such as a ripe brie or camembert;
- A sharp, semi-soft blue;
- A firm yet buttery cheddar;
- Or try a single variety, such as parmesan or goat’s cheese.
Serve your selection on a flat, wicker tray or a marble or wooden board. Don’t crowd the cheeses, so their flavours remain distinct, and supply a knife for each.
Classic accompaniments are best:crisp, unpeeled apple or pear slices (never acidic fruit, such as strawberries) and nuts, such as whole walnuts or hazelnuts. Dried fruits such as muscatels, dates and figs go well with most cheeses.
Always include a variety of crisp, mildly-flavoured crackers such as water crackers, wholemeal crispbread or lavash, and a range of interesting breads: say, a crusty sourdough and a fruit-and-nut bread.
Fruit pastes including quince, fig or cabernet perfectly partner stronger, firmer cheeses such as vintage cheddar. Try a bowl of honey or maple syrup to accompany a robust blue; or a few leaves of rocket and some semi-dried tomato with a fresh goat’s cheese.
cranberry cheese dip & crackers
do you make cheese platters?
How many times a year do you make a cheese platter ?
ingredients
1 12-ounce bag or 3 cups fresh Cranberries, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup minced green onions
2 small (approximately 2 tablespoons) jalapeno chili peppers , cored, seeded and minced
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves,
minced
2 tablespoons finely-grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh-squeezedlemon juice
2 (8-ounce) packages
cream cheese
Cranberries and/or cilantro sprigs for garnish
Rinse, drain, and pick over cranberries, . Place them in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped but not mushy.
The cranberries go into a bowl; mix them together with green onions, jalapeno peppers, sugar, cilantro leaves, ginger, and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours so flavours develop.
On a serving plate, place cream cheese; cover with the dip. Garnish, if desired, and served with crackers.
Serve with a complementary dessert Wine