Did you know that October is CHEESE MONTH? Cheese plates, cheese boards, cheese and crackers, cheese toppings, melted cheese, gooey cheese, however you like to eat your cheese, I’m all in favor of it.
I’ve partnered with American Dairy Association Mideast to share these cheese plate snacks with you today. Working with my favorite organizations to share delicious foods with you is a whole lot of fun. (And as you already know, we are a house filled with dairy lovers!)
With just a wedge of cheese and some snacks from the refrigerator and pantry, you can create a fun meal for any occasion. Sometimes, my cheeseboards are fancy, and other times they are as casual as a paper plate with some cheese, crackers, and grapes or apple slices.
Unless I’m planning something for a special occasion, my cheeseboards are typically a random assortment of odds and ends from the pantry. (See above for the not-so-glamorous evidence.)
When I partnered with American Dairy Association Mideast to share this post with you, they offered to send me some of the award-winning Swiss Cheese that Pearl Valley has been making since 1928.
If this cheese is available in your area, buy it. Not even kidding. We enjoyed it with our cheese plates, but it also melts like a dream in sandwiches and sauces. If Pearl Valley cheese is not available in your area, I’m happy to tell you that you can order all of their award-winning cheeses online.
My challenge to you, with this post, is to see just what you can create using foods that you might already have in the house. If you want to pick up a few things at the store, go for it, but in the end? Cheese plates and cheeseboards don’t have to be expensive.
If you want to join in the fun, share a photo in our Facebook group with the hashtag #barefeetkitchencheeseplates and be entered to win $50 in cheese plate accessories (that I will be picking out and sending to you myself!) along with 3 POUNDS of Pearl Valley’s award-winning Swiss Cheese!
And If you prefer to enter on Instagram instead of FB, just share a photo of your plate there and use the hashtag. Be sure to tag me in the photo, so that I don’t miss it!
(And if you’d rather have $50 on an Amazon gift card? I’m a-okay with that too. Just let me know when I notify you as the winner.) Giveaway will end on October 31st, 2018. Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the U.S to enter. One winner will be randomly selected from the photos that have been posted with the hashtag. There aren’t any other rules for entry, just share a plate of food that includes cheese. Because cheese makes me happy.
What’s your favorite cheese? Do you have one? Mine changes daily and on a whim, so while today’s favorite might be an extra sharp cheddar, tomorrow’s could just as easily be a mild brie or a Swiss. When I’m making sandwiches, I tend to reach most often for Pepper Jack, Swiss, or provolone.
We actually have a DIY cheese bin in our refrigerator (photo above). Because the tiny little shelf drawer that came with the refrigerator wasn’t nearly large enough, I use a plain old heavy duty plastic dishwashing bin and set it on the shelf. #reallife It slides into the space perfectly and there’s never a shortage of cheese in our house.
When you often buy your cheese at Costco, it comes in handy to have plenty of space for storing it all.
My boys love to assemble their own cheese plates both for snacking and for full meals. (They made their own plates for the collage photos here.) Cheese plates really don’t have to be fancy. It’s all going to be delicious however you make them because CHEESE is awesome.
Here’s a fun food fact for you. Did you know that cheese is the #1 food craving for Americans? Cheese even beats out chocolate as the most craved food!
Want to know which cheeses are right for you? Check out DrinkMilk.com for some great cheese pairing info and nutritional facts. oh! And in case you didn’t already know it, natural cheeses like Cheddar, Monterey jack, mozzarella and Swiss contain minimal amounts of lactose because most of the lactose is removed when the curds are separated from the whey in the cheese making process. So, for the lactose intolerant, these cheeses are actually a terrific source of calcium.
To make your own cheese plates, just set everything out on the counter and let people at it. We’ve seen some very interesting flavor combinations created over the years. And my boys have come up with some tasty new favorites too.
To make individual cheese plates, for each person, you might want to have a few of the following things:
assorted cheeses
assorted crackers
a small handful of assorted nuts
jam or a grainy mustard (I typically use this habanero peach jam or this cranberry pepper jam.)
a few tiny pickles or olives
dried fruit
a scoop of GORP
fresh fruits
fresh vegetables
If we’re calling this dinner on a casual night at home, we might add sliced hard sausage and a bit of some other charcuterie meats, as well as a little more cheese to make it more filling.
There really isn’t a wrong way to make a cheese plate. It’s the perfect snack, lunch, dinner, or appetizer for a crowd. Have fun with it all and make it your own.
If you just want cheese and crackers, that works. If you’re more likely to reach for apple slices and a bit of cheese, that works too. Just want a wedge of brie topped with jam? That sounds delicious. Snap a photo and join the fun!
If you want to join in the fun, don’t forget to share a photo in our FB group with the hashtag #barefeetkitchencheeseplates and be entered to win!
Cheese Plate Snacks
Ingredients
- assorted cheeses
- varieties of crackers
- small handful nuts
- jam or a grainy mustard
- a few tiny pickles or olives
- dried fruit
- fresh fruit
- fresh vegetables
- homemade ranch dip
Instructions
- If we're calling this dinner on a casual night at home, we might add sliced hard sausage and a bit of some other charcuterie meats, as well as a little more cheese to make it more filling.
- If you just want cheese and crackers, that works. If you're more likely to reach for apple slices and a bit of cheese, that works too. Just want a wedge of brie topped with jam? That sounds delicious.
- However, you make your cheese plate, enjoy!
For more information about dairy nutrition, to find delicious new recipes, and to meet Ohio and West Virginia dairy farmers, visit Drink-Milk.com.
Disclosure: I’ve partnered with American Dairy Association Mideast to share this with you today. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mary Yates says
Did you pick an October Cheeseplates winner yet?
Mary says
Yes, I announced the winner on the photo entry and in the FB group. 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1409213665830139/permalink/2199452916806206/