This is a great appetizer for a large crowd. I served close to 40 people at a recent grad party for my daughter and I had to refill it twice! The thing to remember is don’t put the cheese in the sun because it will melt, and if you serve it outside buy a mesh lid. Here is a link to what i am referring to –Lid for platter. This will keep away the bugs, otherwise you will be shooing them all night long! LOL

This platter is very basic, but if you add some contrasting colors and an assortment of cheeses and assemble artfully this is a beautiful arrangement that will wow your guests. Start with buying yourself a large wood platter, not just big but also a thick one maybe 1 or 2 inches thick. I shop a few days ahead for my cheeses and will visit multiple stores before I pick my cheese selection. Sometimes I buy what’s on sale and work from that. This platter has cheddar cheese, always a crowd pleaser, Gouda cheese (a very popular cheese), and our fave Swiss Cheese! I cut some into chunks, which can be eaten with a toothpick and others I sliced to eat on top of a cracker.

For the crackers, I purchased some salty and some sweet, some round, some triangular shaped and some square. I added a Strawberry & Prossecco Jam to the platter. I also added some tiny sweet pickles, my fave! The grapes are red and green and add color and contrast, and everyone likes if not loves grapes. Along the side of my platter I added a few strawberry containers (in pink), which I bought at Michaels and filled with parchment paper and fresh strawberries. I even added the parchment paper to the board for a rustic look.

Check out my recipe for my  Rustic Cheeseboard Appetizer. Just some ideas I thought I’d share with you as you plan your summer grad parties, picnics, family reunions, birthday parties and dinner gatherings….Enjoy the summer everyone! xo