I love summertime in the Pacific Northwest for so many reasons: fresh local berries, warm sunshine, backyard bbq’s and late nights enjoying the sunlight with friends, spending time on the lake. One of my very favorite things about summer, though, is the opportunity to make lots of colorful, refreshing snack boards!!!! Below are easy tips I like to keep in mind when crafting my summer snacks.
Charcuterie Board Tip #1: Utilize berries that are in season and local!
We are SO lucky to have so many fantastic local berry farms here in Whatcom County. My very favorites are Barbie’s Berries, Boxx Berry Farm and Shumway’s! You can pick berries yourself or purchase pre-picked berries from their farms!
Charcuterie Board Tip #2: Cut grapes into small bunches + create bit sized items!
Whenever you’re putting out any snack tray, think of the logistics of how people might want to eat the items you’re laying out. Cutting grapes into small bunches makes it easy for people to grab a bunch of go and be sure everything is bite sized and easy to snatch or scoop up.
Charcuterie Board Tip #3: Choose meats + cheeses that can withstand heat!
Choosing meats and cheeses that can be out in the heat for a little while is always a good idea. No one like a sweaty cheese tray 😉 Salamis and hard cheeses are typically the way to go here. Also consider using a large, flat ice pack that you can put under the tray to keep it cool – I like this one!
Charcuterie Board Tip #4: Try a sweet spread to pair with fruits
I love cheese spreads and my go to is typically whipped feta, but for this tray I made a sweet cream which consisted of 1c. cream cheese, 1/2c. vanilla greek yogurt 1TB of honey! Whip it together, put it back in the fridge for about an hour and serve. Pairs SO well with fresh fruits!
5. Charcuterie Board Tip #5: Use mesh food screens!
These little guys are the best for keeping all those pesky bugs and critters off the goods!
Happy Hosting!
Want to see more food photography? Check out the food section of my blog!
