Happy Valentine’s Day! Here is a perfect charcuterie brunch board that is fun, adult, AND kid tested and approved. Piled high with all the favorites – cheeses, meats, fruits, and toppings onto a beautiful board and serve garnished with fresh herbs and edible flowers.
Cook Time: 15 minutes for flatbreads
Serves: 10
Yield: 10; 8-inch flatbreads
Build the Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board: Use your biggest cutting board or platter and build the Ricotta Spread slightly off-center.
To prepare the Ricotta Spread scoop the ricotta into a heart-shaped cookie cutter or bowl placed on board. Press the Frigo® Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese gently into a heart-shaped cookie cutter or bowl until it fills the vessel, sprinkle with coarse sea salt cracked black pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with fresh herbs.
Next, prepare the heart-shaped Mozzarella Caprese by slicing the Frigo® Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese down the length (long side) of the package, slicing into 1/4-inch wide slices. Using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter cut as many hearts as can. Slice two medium-sized ripe tomatoes into 1/4-inch slices. Fan the mozzarella and tomatoes, interchanging tomato and mozzarella until ingredients have been used. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and fresh herbs.
Now, to the fun part! One must admit that charcuterie boards are really just adult Lunchables. That is why I cannot help add elements of fun to all of my boards. My son, Quinton, and I are Frigo® Cheese Heads® String Cheese fiends so why not add a kiddo fav?! We wrap string cheese in thin slices of salami and cut in half, then cut Frigo® Cheese Heads® String Cheese Combo Pack meat and cheese sticks in thirds.
Build the board by piling the Frigo® Cheese Heads® around the ricotta spread, mozzarella Caprese. Fan slices of Great Midwest® Cranberry Cheddar Cheese around the Caprese and then sprinkle with dried cranberries. Pile toppings – fresh fruit, vegetables, salami roses, assorted olives and/or pickled vegetables, dried fruit, nuts, and/or trail mix, chocolate-covered nuts and fruit, and crackers around the cheese elements until the board is full.
Finish by adorning with fresh herbs and edible flowers.
Served with crackers, flatbreads, and/or fresh bread.
Grab plates, napkins, forks, and gather friends and family around the board!
Time to feast!