Charcuterie Board Tips:

• The best way to start a charcuterie board is with an assortment of meats and cheeses.
• Choose three different cheeses; one soft, one semi-soft and one hard (such as Cheddar, Brie and Parmesan). Arrange them on a wooden cutting board alongside some jam, honey or preserves (such as apricot jam or honey), mustard, cornichons (tiny French pickles), crackers or small toasts (such as baguette slices).
• Fill a pretty bowl with olives (any variety is fine), add wedges of fresh lemon or orange and serve
• Dot the board with your favorite sauces — mustards work well — to add some pop to your presentation. If desired, add some freshly-baked bread rounds or crackers to serve with the board.
• Use cured meats like salami, prosciutto and others to infuse flavor.
• Add grapes for acidity/sweetness and texture various cheeses.
• Consider nuts for extra fat and more flavor such as almonds or cashews but stay away if there are allergies.