A Proper Cheese Plate

CarrieLeave a comment

With the holidays coming up, I think it’s important to go over what I like to call the basics of putting together a cheese plate. I must say that this is the easiest way to put out “appetizers” and it always goes over well with your guests. I don’t think there is any reason to do much more than this when hosting a party. Although I must say that I always make Ina Garten’s sausage stuffed mushrooms as well because they are simply out of this world.

Here are the 7 components of a fantastic cheese tray:
1. Sharp Cheese
Choose a sharp cheese like an aged cheddar, aged gouda or parmesan.
2. Blue Cheese
Choose a good blue cheese such as stilton, moody blue (Smoked Blue Cheese), or gorgonzola.
3. Goat Cheese or Sheep’s Milk Cheese
Choose a delicious, tangy chèvre, goat gouda, drunken goat, or manchego.
4. Cheese Spread
This is a great option to have in case there are any children at the party. I often go with a port wine cheddar cheese spread. If the store is open, I will go for our own hand-mixed champagne cheddar.
5. Brie
Choose some type of brie-like cheese such as Fromage D’Affinois, Delice de Bourgogne, St. Andre, or St. Angel. You can also top them with fig jam or have a side of chutney as an option. The possibilities are endless.
5. Cured Meat
Choose prosciutto, chorizo, salami, or sopressata. Go wild and choose a couple!
6. Pickled or Brined Item
Choose from olives, cornichons, gherkins, roasted red peppers, or marinated artichokes.
7. Cracker or Fresh Bread
Choose any type of cracker that you prefer or a freshly baked bread. Of course, I like to use French bread from the bakery. I also prefer to use pita chips, flatbreads, and nut and fruit crackers such as the Almondina brand.
An arrangement of these will make for a successful cocktail hour. Everyone will be pleased to meet your cheese tray at your next holiday party.

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This is a cheese platter that I put together for a customer at the bakery. Their guests were happy with the choices I made…Five Counties, Delice de Bourgogne, Stilton, Miticrema, and Bellavitano.
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This is a cheese platter I put together for a friend and I for a fun summer picnic on my back deck. It was all we needed for dinner. Everything you see here can be found at my bakery. That’s an advantage of owning your own store!
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This graphite serving board allows you to write the name of the cheese onto the platter using a piece of soapstone. My friend Kelly got this for me for my 30th birthday and I love it!

Coat Shopping

Sadie2 Comments

I love a great coat, and here’s why:

1. During the colder months you probably rely on a couple coats to wear everyday. They better be sturdy and classic, but fabulous.

2. Your coat is often the first and last thing your co-workers, friends, and family see you wearing during cold winter days. You want to leave the right impression.

I’m always in the market for a great wool coat that is stylish, classic, work appropriate, and well made. I love a zipper as opposed to buttons, and an asymmetric zipper at that. I say no to hoods, and I tend to go with fitted as opposed to swing or cocoon. I have a red coat that I love, and a black coat that does the job, so I’m always looking to diversify.

Here are a couple coats I’ve been stalking at Nordstrom waiting for a sale. What do you think?

This one by Marc New York meets all of my requirements and it doesn’t even break the bank at full price at $198. It’s probably number one on my list:

MarcNewYork

 

I also love this one by Michael Kors. I’ve decided that grey or blue are my best options to diversify my coat color options. This is a little pricier than above at $27o.

MichaelKors

And then over at Bloomies and a little north of my price range:

This DKNY coat is a little pricey for me at $360, but it does fit all of my criteria, and it pretty fabulous.

DKNY

And can we talk about This DL2 camel coat at $599. I’m not as familiar with Dawn Levy, but I like her already. I cannot get enough of camel in the fall and winter.

DL2

Here’s hoping for a Veterans day coat sale!

 

30 and Loving It

CarrieLeave a comment

After a long hiatus, I am making my return to the blog. At my birthday bash in September, Sadie put the smack down on me and said you have to start posting regularly by Thanksgiving in order to consider yourself an administrator of the blog. So here I am making my attempt to post on a regular basis.

Since you last heard from me, a lot has changed. As Jordin Sparks said after her breakup with Jason Derulo, “Plot twist!”  I am a single woman once again. Throw your hands in the air if you just don’t care. That’s my new philosophy. I am embracing my newly reinstated status of single and loving every moment of my freedom. Don’t get me wrong, I like to have a man to snuggle up with just as much as any other girl, but I must say that there is beauty in the breakdown.

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