When I'm having some girlfriends over for a drink before dinner, or maybe we're having an afternoon playdate this has been my go-to snack. It is a little different than a typical cheese board - a little more simple. It is homemade parmesan biscuits (Barefoot Contessa), shards of white cheddar (also very Barefoot Contessa), blue berries and Boursin covered in honey (so good!).
I present them all of a big pine
Bread Board to make it feel rustic and casual. It is a very help yourself sort of presentation. This large board is part of a
Set of 3 Aged Pine Bread Boards in my store - they've just been restocked.
I have the boards all over my house - not only in the kitchen, but also in my mudroom. I use them for staging photos for the store, a tray for drinks and, of course, cheese boards.
When we moved into our kitchen, it felt very brand new (which was great) and I wanted to give it a little bit of rustic aged charm. Just putting these boards leaning on the wall of the baking counter was the perfect solution. Instant patina.
The
Parmesan Crackers are a favorite Barefoot Contessa recipe. You can make them in advance and keep them in the freezer. You make the dough into a log, then slice it off for baking. They are so tender, salty and crumbly.
I bake the crackers on a
Large Baking Sheet ($10) lined with
Parchment Paper ($10 for 100). It is naturally non-stick + no clean-up.
This is sort of a hack/shortcut recipe - it is soooo good. I first had it at a tennis match. We usually play tennis then stay after for drinks and nibbles. A friend brought this one night and we all went crazy. You literally just pour honey over Boursin. It is delish with the parmesan crackers.
With a cocktail, there is nothing better than a really great piece of cheese. I use a pairing knife to create little chunks of the cheese. The rough texture seems to add to the yumminess.