How to Make a Perfect Memorial Day Charcuterie

As Memorial Day approaches, it's time to gather with loved ones, fire up the grill, and celebrate the start of summer. This year, elevate your festivities with a stunning charcuterie board that not only tantalizes taste buds but also pays homage to the spirit of the holiday. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or a cozy picnic, a well-curated charcuterie board can be the star of your spread, offering a delightful mix of flavors and textures. In this blog post, I'll guide you through the steps to create the perfect Memorial Day charcuterie board, from selecting the finest ingredients to arranging them in a visually appealing and mouthwatering display. Get ready to impress your guests with a festive feast that's as beautiful as it is delicious!

STEP 1 - Learn how to pronounce it.

Shahr - coo - ter - ee

STEP 2 - Pick your theme (holiday, adults/kids, etc). Today - red, white, and blue for Memorial Day.

STEP 3 - Find the perfect board.

This step is so much fun! There are some amazing boards out there that I absolutely love! I've used Christmas trees, stars, rectangles, circles, even egg and bunny shaped boards. It's also fun to throw butcher paper down on a table and use the entire table as the spread (ONLY recommend for big crowds or dinner sized portions). My favorite however, is doing a simple rectangular or circular board and adding bowls filled with goodies - in this case - STAR bowls.

STEP 4 - CREATE!

It's always easiest when starting out your charcuterie board journey to look at pictures for ideas of what items to purchase and how to style the board. It's important to remember that it is a process and in the words of Bob Ross, "We don't make mistakes, just happy accidents." Don't overthink it or stress! Just throw it on there - there's truly no rhyme or reason to it and that's what makes it so much fun to create.

PRO TIP: If you are creating a cheese board I recommend plating your cheese first and then adding the additional items in order of focus, ie. if you have any meats - do those second, crackers third, fruits and nuts last.

*SEE BELOW FOR HOW TO BAKE BRIE

STEP 5 - Extras.

I always love to add that little extra something like a taller plant for dimension, a table runner or towel, or some fun decorations surrounding the board for that wow factor. I found my napkins and star cutters for the cheese at a local craft store.

STEP 6 - Serve and ENJOY!

Be sure to like this post and follow me on Instagram @kimberlymarielifestyle for a red, white, and blue styled charcuterie board for kids (aka - candy!)

*BAKED BRIE RECIPE

It's truly so simple. Preheat your oven to 350˚. Slice the top off brie and place onto a piece of parchment paper on a baking pan. Top with chopped nuts, dried fruit, and berries in the center. Replace the top and bake for about 10 minutes or until the brie begins to ooze. Remove from the oven and place directly onto the charcuterie board and quickly plate your other items.