Appetizers & Desserts

the cheese plate The Cheese Plate Holiday appetizer fare doesn’t have to be involved and complicated. Instead, it can be simple and unadorned--and delicious! Creating a cheese plate or cheese display will simplify your holiday menu planning with mouthwatering results. • Remove cheese from the refrigerator no more than 2 hours before guests arrive, so the cheese can warm to room temperature, the optimal serving temperature. • Arrange the cheeses however you like, perhaps according to size, color, shape or flavor. As a general rule, first sample milder, younger cheeses with less complexity, such as Havarti, and work your way up to more mature, bolder, heavier cheeses, such as Asiago or Limburger. Or if you prefer, serve a “flight,” samples of cheeses with something in common, such as texture or cheeses from the same family, perhaps Cheddar. A flight of soft or semisoft cheeses might include Fontina, Camembert, Havarti and Brie. • Display cheeses in large wedges, or whole for softer cheeses such as Brie. Let guests serve themselves, using an assortment of sharp knives, cheese spreaders and cheese slicers. • Label cheeses for your guests. Be creative by using toothpicks with flags, individual place cards, ceramic markers or any other type of marker. Knowing which cheeses guests enjoyed most will be helpful for future entertaining. GreAt Go-toGethers Cheese ABC’s Specialty shops and farmers’ markets, in addition to your local supermarket, are invaluable resources when shopping for cheese. Stores that offer the largest variety, such as wine shops, gourmet food stores and food co-ops, may also offer you samples to taste. This is a great way to explore cheeses you aren’t familiar with and taste the differences among cheeses you like. Sample sharp Cheddar and mild Cheddar, and note the differences. Be sure to ask lots of questions. Cheese experts will be able to answer questions and suggest the right cheeses for your entertaining plans. • If you will be serving cheese as an appetizer, choose three to five cheeses and plan on 1 to 2 ounces of each cheese per person. Betty Crocker Appetizers & Desserts Cheese is wonderful by itself, and it’s even better when accompanied by foods that cleanse the palate, add texture and taste, and complement the cheese. Serve your cheese with: Assorted bread cubes or slices (dark breads, nut breads) or assorted crackers Fresh or dried fruits (apples, apricots, cherries, dates, figs, grapes, melon, pears) Vegetables (roasted red bell peppers or raw bell pepper strips, raw carrots, cooked green beans, olives, marinated vegetable salad) Nuts (roasted or smoked whole almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans) Meats (capicola, chorizo, ham, prosciutto, salami, almost any cured meat)

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Appetizers & Desserts

Appetizers & Desserts Contents The Cheese Plate Cheese Primer Hot Appetizers Cold Appetizers Festive Beverages Holiday Open House Fabulous Desserts Nutrition and Recipe Testing Guidelines Index

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