This Ultimate Appetizer Board shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InspireWithCheese
Are you in holiday mode yet? We’ve had a pretty warm fall here in the Midwest, so I’m not completely there yet. Yesterday I tagged a few holiday movies on Netflix, now I just need a little snow, a few more gift catalogs crammed in my mailbox and the first holiday song on the radio.
In the meantime, I’m stocking the frig with some basics to create the Ultimate Appetizer Board. The holidays don’t make me frazzled anymore because I’ve learned some tips I’m sharing today that make entertaining stress-free and fun ~ even for the host.
The Ultimate Appetizer Board couldn’t be easier to assemble, is easily elevated with just a few creative touches and has something for everyone including the carnivores: Kaukauna® cheese balls, sliced cheese, seasonal fruits, smoked meats, crunchy crackers and breadsticks, but hey ~ I’m not giving away all my secrets here ~ read below!
I wrestled my husband’s recipe for Homemade Roasted Pumpkin Seeds from him that we’ve been devouring for years. These treats come with a warning: they’re deliciously addictive.
Let’s talk entertaining. I’ll be the first to admit that entertaining wasn’t always stress-free (my husband and kids will vouch for that) ~ frantically chopping, mixing ~ even cleaning ~ as guests were pulling into the driveway, but the tips I’m sharing practically guarantee it IS possible.
Plan: Have as much done as possible ahead of time so you’re not flustered when you greet your guests.
Food: Keep the menu simple and include this Ultimate Appetizer Board to put out when guests arrive.
Beverages: Offer a self-serve bar keeping with the ‘simple’ theme.
Help: Accept help when it’s offered.
Relax: No one is judging you. They’re here for a good time. You’ve got this!
The Ultimate Appetizer Board is simple to assemble because there’s no wrong way to do it!
- Gather your main ingredients: cheeses, smoked meats, bread or crackers, something sweet (fruit or chocolate!)
- Find a few garnishes from around the house.
- Place the main ingredients on the board then add garnishes or decorative accents.
You can use a board like I have here or a platter is fine too. Look around your home; you probably already have something that’ll be ideal.
The Ultimate Appetizer Board is an appetizer that’ll take you through the holiday season and right into the near year and with a few creative touches, a simple board is elevated so it looks as special as it tastes.
Moving on to the Homemade Roasted Pumpkin Seeds ~ lightly crispy with just the right amount of salt and a great seasonal treat, not the bloated, overly salty ones you may have tasted before that had you swearing off pumpkin seeds.
There are only two ingredients: seeds and salt. Start by removing the seeds from the pumpkin, then rinse the goop off.
Add the pumpkin seeds to a large bowl, fill with water, salt generously (it should taste like the ocean) and soak overnight on the counter.
The next day drain the seeds into a colander ~do not rinse ~ and transfer them to a foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake 1 – 1 1/2 hours at 250 degrees until they’re dry and lightly crisp, stirring every 30 minutes.
Ultimate Appetizer Board Components:
-
- Kaukauna® Sharp Cheddar Cheese Ball
- Kaukauna® Smoky Bacon Cheese Ball
- Homemade Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
- Pomegranate Seeds
- A variety of crackers
- Sesame breadsticks
- Smoked meats (prosciutto, chorizo, soppressata used)
- Pistachios
- Sliced cheeses (smoked gouda, manchego, jalapeno used)
- Brie Cheese topped with spicy jam
I’ve been making appetizer boards a long time; they’re my go-to for entertaining year around because you can customize them however you like and take advantage of seasonal fruits and veggies.
Kaukauna® spreadable cheeses are a great addition to any cheese or appetizer board. They’re delicious, made with 100% real cheddar and are available in cups, balls, and logs, making entertaining easy. You can add them to any recipe you want cheesy good flavor too.
Before you shop, click to save on your next Kaukauna® cheese purchase and here for more recipe inspiration. I bought everything I needed for this board at my local Value Center Marketplace~ including the pumpkins!
Last but definitely not least, for a chance to win prizes through a Kaukauna® sweepstakes, you can either share a pre-written tweet, visit the social hub, visit Kaukauna®’s Facebook page, or visit Kaukauna®’s Pinterest page! Four lucky winners will win an “entertaining basket” that includes a $250 Visa gift card, apron, oven mitt, kitchen towel, Kaukauna® cheeseboard, and serving platter. Ten lucky winners will receive a $100 Visa gift card, and fifteen lucky winners will receive either a $25 Visa gift card, a Kaukauna® cheeseboard, and an oven mitt or apron! Sweepstakes entry dates are 11/15/2017 12:00am ET to 12/31/2017 11:59pm ET. See Official Rules.
#InspireWithCheese #Sweepstakes (11/15 to 12/31)
Good luck!
Here’s to a stress-free, fun holiday season connecting with family and friend. Enjoy!
If you tried this recipe or any other on the blog, don’t forget to leave a comment or star rating ~ I love hearing from you!
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Ultimate Appetizer Board
Ingredients
- Kaukauna® Sharp Cheddar Cheese Ball
- Kaukauna® Smoky Bacon Cheese Ball
- Homemade Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
- Pomegranate Seeds
- variety of crackers
- Sesame breadsticks
- Smoked meats prosciutto, chorizo, soppressata
- Pistachios
- Sliced cheeses smoked gouda, manchego, jalapeno
- Brie Cheese topped with spicy jam
- seeds from one large pumpkin
- salt
Instructions
- Gather all your main ingredients: cheeses, smoked meats, bread or crackers, something sweet (fruit or even chocolate!)
- Gather a few garnishes from around the house.
- Place the main ingredients on the board then add garnishes or decorative accents.
Homemade Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
- Add the pumpkin seeds to a large bowl, fill with water, salt generously (it should taste like the ocean) and soak overnight on the counter.
- The next day drain the seeds into a colander ~do not rinse ~ and transfer the seeds to a foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake 1 – 1 1/2 hours at 250 degrees until they’re dry and lightly crisp, stirring every 30 minutes. Watch carefully so they don't burn.
Big Bubble’s Belly, what a fantastic board. I could make this a meal! I’m making a trip to the store so I can make this for Thanksgiving! Goodness Gracious! Pinned. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. Stay safe and enjoy the day.
Hi there Mary! Thank you so much! I could (and have) made a meal from this easy appetizer. I hope you enjoyed the board and had a happy Thanksgiving. Chat again soon 🙂
For me, the holidays aren’t complete without Kaukauna Cheese.
I completely agree Colleen ~ delicious every time by itself or as part of a cheese board. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy Thanksgiving!