Note from Meaghan: Y’all are in for such a treat! My sweet, wonderful and lovably crazy friend Dawn has graciously offered to guest post for me today. If you don’t know Dawn, you’re missing out. She’s a bundle of awesome creative energy and love and you cannot help but be gathered into her atmosphere once you’re around her for two seconds. She’s a doll, and I love her dearly. Also, as you’ll see in this post, she puts together a mad charcuterie board (the above pic is her actual board at our actual dinner) that I want desperately to claim as my own, but can’t. So here goes nothing. Dawn–take it away!
It is my great honor to hijack @Beautyfromburnttoast’s blog today.
In all seriousness, (or as serious as I get) I was thrilled to have been invited by Meaghan to share a few words, as well as our go-to recipe for a perfectly yummy, somewhat decadent, making-you-look-fancy kind of charcuterìe board.
My name is Dawn Pepper-Lenci, a crazy Canadian lass with a passion for words and need to hack at writing a few lines, cook some delicious foods, (without poisoning my family) and serve my heavenly Father, by using my hands to help others, each day.
Have you had THAT MOMENT, you know the one, where you sit across from a complete stranger and within an hour, you just know!! That you will be forever friends? Well, I haven’t experienced that often but your esteemed and gracious Blog Host – @beautyfromburnttoast – changed all of that, just one year ago.
We were attending a bible study at our church, sat at the same table and within moments, this striking brunette and I were sharing food stories, chatting about our children, laughing at some off color remark I’d made, -(I am a Christian woman with a tic which demands that I occasionally share too much information, even.in.church).- With tears streaming down our faces, we decided that indeed; this new friendship was a gift from God, which we committed to build.
And… what is the best way to build a new friendship? Around the table of course.
Meaghan invited each of her crazy new friends from Table Two for a lovely dinner, at her home. Within our colorful, patchwork quilt of crazy – we’d all gone through a few tough things, a painful divorce, a cancer diagnosis and treatment, one mom struggling with a significant learning challenge assessment for her baby boy, chronic pain, self worth issues and… you know, the gambit.
I arrived with my meager contribution; a bulky, Charcuterie Board. Now what is that you ask? Well, simply, if you refer to the introduction, being Canadian, there are certain things we only learn in French. Off hand, do you know what a toque is? (The hat you wear in the winter), we literally do not have an English word for it. I will spare you any more… A charcuterie board is a fancy, schmancy name for a cheese platter. <Admit it, cheese platter sounds a wee bit boring, in comparison, right?>
As we sat outside, we were welcomed as only a foodie would welcome, to a table with real china, cloth serviettes, (got me again, French for napkin), crystal glassware, ridiculous salads and a pasta dish to knock your socks off. The beauty of a sharing meal is the ability to sample things you would never try. Each of our friends brought their bounty and share, We. Did!
That night will forever be held in the archives of my joy file. We sipped incredible wine, consumed an amazing meal, and seconds and thirds – whilst sitting around nibbling on our cheese platter – until the dark of night called us back to reality, to our homes and real lives.
In that night, we didn’t conquer the solution for world peace, what we did was love on, support, laugh with and cry out with our Soul Sisters.
The bible speaks to the ‘breaking of bread’ several times. The breaking of bread is symbolic, the essence of the bread is Christ, and the sharing in and honoring of Him.
“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart…”
If you have time, (and maybe; if you don’t) break some bread with your people this week.
I can promise you, the sensation you are left with surpasses the quench of the thirst, the fullness of a hunger, what it will do, (I guarantee it) it will feed your sister soul. And that my friend, will ‘butter your bread’. Amen
The best part about charcuterie platters is how easy they are to play with and work around. The following are just suggestions that will truly blow your guests minds (especially that Onion Chutney–trust me on that one). The key is balance, meats to cheeses, sweets to savory, crunchy to silky. But play around! Use your favorites as a guide and go crazy. Of course, it goes without saying that these boards are best served to loved ones with some good wine and good music and good conversation. But that, of course, is the whole point anyway so I’m sure you knew it already.
The Perfect Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- Crackers:
- Water Crackers
- Rice Crackers
- Fig and Garlic Crackers (Trader Joes)
- Sweets:
- Fig Preserve (TJ's)
- Organic Honey
- Onion Chutney (Williams Sonoma)
- Brookside Chocolates with Blueberries
- Green Seedless Grapes
- Meats:
- BoarsHead Prosciutto and Mozzarella Rolls
- BoardsHead Black truffle and Salami Cold Cut Roll
- Cheeses:
- Manchego
- Double Cream Brie D'affinois (or just plain Brie if necessary)
- Sharp English Aged White Cheddar
- Others:
- Kalamata Olives (pitted)
Directions
- Step 1 Arrange all items on a large platter and Serve!
- Step 2 As Dawn would say, Bon Appetit!
Welcome to BurntToast! My name is Meaghan, and this is my safe space, a place where we can share stories, share recipes and share life. It’s my dream that you can come here, kick your shoes off and pour yourself a glass of wine while you read, laugh, and maybe even hop into the kitchen. This is my heart, for all of you to see. And ALL are welcome here.