Are you hosting Friendsgiving this year? If so, why not simplify dinner by creating a large charceturie board. Place it down the center of your table to create a relaxed atmosphere with a feast for the eyes within hands reach.
I made the board featured in the photo above. It was under $20 for the board and sealing supplies. It was so simple! To re-create a similar board for your table be sure to read the post DIY Table Length Charcuterie Board. Once you have the supplies you can make this is under 30 minutes- no saw required!
The fun thing about charcuterie boards is that almost anything goes! For a Thanksgiving themed board you could add some slices of baguettes with a cranberry jam, smoked turkey and arugula on them. Add seasonal nuts and cheeses. I love this apple chutney from Trader Joes and it was delicious over a triple cream brie cheese.
I re-created an appetizer I had with this group of friends. A slice of baguette with warm pimento cheese with bacon and onion relish. Yum! You could provide all of the food for the charcuterie board or give your guests an assignment. Here is an example:
2 White Cheeses
3 diffrent types of nuts
2 Gluten Free Cracker Options
Crackers
Fresh Bread
A soft cheese like Brie + Topping like fig preserves
Prosciutto and Pepperoni or Sausage
Olives
2 Unique Cheeses
Honey and/or Honeycomb
Fresh fruit like grapes, figs or pomegranates
Stuffed Mushrooms
Dried cranberries
Pears or Seasonal Apples
For more ideas for a great, balanced board be sure to read my Anatomy of a Cheese Board post. A crowd favorite this time of year is always the pumpkin shaped cheese ball!
If you are intending to host a more substantial meal make sure to add some protein and/or side dishes. This was a ladies only luncheon event so we also enjoyed salad with grilled chicken. In my effort to wash fewer dishes, half of the crystal salad bowl was filled with a seasonal greens with grilled chicken, honey crisp apples, dried cranberries and feta. I served it with a Rose’ Vinaigrette from Trader Joes. The other half was a classic romaine lettuce caesar salad with grilled chicken, fresh cherry tomatoes, and fresh parmesan cheese served along side a creamy caesar dressing. I served the dressings in these adorable pumpkin gravy boats. I can’t find a link for the exact ones, but THESE are adorable!
Take time to make things special for your friends at Friendsgiving. I made simple placecards by printing names on 3×5 index cards. Print the name at the bottom and then fold it in half. You can place the card as a tent or lay it flat like I did. I cut two small silts in the top right side of each card and thread a small piece of wheat through them. I placed a liturgy prayer at each place setting to set the tone that this time was sacred and special. Not an ordinary day. A liturgy is a prayer that the host reads one portion and then the group reads a portion together and then back and forth. I have found that it really unifies the group and sets a tone of “special.” A place card and a written prayer like this are the stuff that matters, friends. Having your guests feel welcome, seen, and loved will create a memory that will matter in their hearts. Knowing that you planned for them individually will fill feed their souls.
My favorite part about eating together with friends off this giant board was that it naturally created a relaxed atmosphere. We didn’t need to hop up to serve more food, we just visited and grazed. I tried to place identical food on each end of the board so that all guests had access to all foods easily and within arms reach. I made sure to only put gluten free options in front of my gluten free guests. We had so much fun visiting! I can’t wait to plop this board in the middle of the table again! I hope you will take time to enjoy some good, simple food in the middle of your table surrounded by friends and family this month!
Meet the Hostess
I'm a Southern girl who loves a good party, a house full of laughter, and a porch swing full of friends and family. I blog about how to host in a way that matters. Curious what I mean by that? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND READ MY STORY.
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