How To Make an Easy Cheese Board
Cheese boards have become all the rage. During the holidays this year I shared how to make a simple cheese board, and today I am going to share with how to make an easy cheese board. I am going to show you how to make a cheese board without breaking the bank.
When it comes to making cheese boards, the possibilities are absolutely endless. Whether I am pulling together a late-night snack, goodies for a girl\’s movie night, a quick and easy weekend lunch, or an appetizer for friends, cheese boards are my go-to for every occasion.
Cheese boards can be as fancy or as simple as you\’d like them to be. When I am doing a cheese board for guests I typically like to include: 1-2 types of meat, 2-3 kinds of cheese, a pile of crackers and a few handfuls of snack foods that I have stashed in the pantry.
Lately, I have been ditching the snack foods and going with pickles and apples. The combination has been absolutely amazing.
The secret to a great cheeseboard?
Pile it on there. Seriously.
Easy cheese board tips and tricks
Serving size of one ounce per cheese, per person
When I build a cheese board for 4-6 people I like to do at least three different cheese and two meats
If using fancy cheese leave the cheese out at room temperature one hour prior to serving
How to assemble a cheese board
Make sure to color block
Make it inviting
Get creative
Put jams, jellies, and spreads in small jars and replenish as needed
What to include on a cheese board?
A variety of cheeses
A variety of meats
Nuts
Crackers
Pickles
Grapes
Grape Tomatoes
Jams, jellies or spreads
Pretzels
Cheeseball
Salsa
Vegetables
Assorted fruit, such as apples
And more
My everyday cheese boards usually feature:
Dearborn Brand Smoked Kielbasa
A variety of store-brand cheeses
Assorted crackers
Pickles
Whatever fresh fruit I have in the house at the time (typically apples)
I have also been making cheese boards that have pretzels, vegetables, and nuts. When it comes to a cheese board the sky is the limit. Create one that you will love, not just one you\’re trying to make fancy and impressive.
Pro Tip: Splurge on a small chunk of your favorite fancy cheese and fill out the rest of the cheeseboard with much less expensive options.
How to preserve leftover cheese?
Tightly wrap leftover cheese in wax paper or foil and throw them in the vegetable drawer to ensure freshness.
How to display your cheese board?I like to use a serving tray, cutting board, small slabs of wood or a small sheet pan to make my cheese boards.
Pro Tip: By the time you get your cheeseboard piled high with all the delicious goodies, no one will even notice what you have used.
Five Things
I cannot believe I have just concluded week 9 of quarantine here in Michigan. It\’s absolutely crazy to think that 63 we have been under a stay-at-home order.
I will be honest with you, as someone who could probably be considered \”needy\” and usually has a jam-packed schedule filled with events and activities – I actually feel like I am thriving during this quarantine. Of course, I am not thrilled with the fact that I cannot travel and that shows and sports are canceled. I hate that restaurants are curbside only and that I am unable to interact with people. I especially hate that I lost my job, but despite all of this I am in the best mental state that I have been in a really long time.
I figured out the key to my happiness and why I am thriving – it\’s hiking. Yes, I know that I go on hikes constantly and travel to hike, but I never wake up every single morning and go hiking. Jack and I are still on the same schedule we were on when I was working. However, instead of me beginning to work after I take Jack for his morning walk we now head out into the woods for a hike and it is everything I need.
So while tomorrow is unknown, and everything is canceled for the year, instead of me feeling sad and depressed I am filled with all the positive vibes and really feel like I am thriving. With that being said this week\’s five things are filled with everything that has given me all the feel-good vibes this week. Which includes, an amazing package from my friend Megan, views from this week\’s hikes, a super cute BarkBox featuring SCOOB! goodies, a super cute adult swaddle blanket that I cannot wait to use for car camping and campfires and a picture from the amazing Blue Angels flyover that gave me all the feels.
Here is to another amazing week, and don\’t forget to keep up with what Jack and I are doing by following us on Instagram. Trust me, you\’re not going to want to miss the details on how we are watching SCOOB! tonight!
New SCOOB! Movie: Barkbox Edition
What came in the SCOOB! BarkBox?
Scooby-Doo of course! Obviously, the coolest dog of them all (besides Jack of course), had to be included! The Scoob stuffy is packed with plenty of fluff, a disc squeaker, and crinkle. This Scoob stuffy is perfect for playing fetch with your pup – after all Scooby-Doo is used to being chased.
Jinkies! You can\’t forget about the Mystery Machine! Packed with all your dog\’s favorites: fluff, crinkle, and of course a disc squeaker.
Jeepers! You can\’t forget about the most important part… Scooby Snacks! Jack\’s BarkBox had two packages of Scooby Snacks one was duck and the other was trout. There was also a Scooby Snack salmon chew, that Jack was completely stoked about. This was Jack\’s first time having a salmon treat, and I think it just might be his new favorite – clearly, he takes after his mama because I definitely love salmon. I only give Jack treats that are made in the USA so I loved that these were made in the USA.
Grab your favorite snack and don\’t forget, you can watch SCOOB! at home this Friday, May 15th!
SCOOB Movie Night
Have you heard the news! The gang will be ready to visit your living room this Friday, May 15! As an added bonus you can join in on the SCOOB! Movie Night Premiere Event and Twitter Watch Party featuring a dedicated red carpet pre-show with talent appearances, exclusive content and more. Once the watch party begins you can engage on Twitter using #SCOOBMovieNight, and don\’t forget to purchase SCOOB!.
I\’ll be joining in and watching SCOOB! thanks to the WB to find out how lifelong friends Scooby-Doo and Shaggy first met and joined Fred, Velma and Daphne to form the famous Mystery Inc. Rumor has it the gang will be facing their biggest and most challenging ever, and Jack and I cannot wait to watch!
The Best Baked Cod Fish Tacos
I must admit, this is my FIRST time cooking fish on my own. Typically someone else (like my grandma) would cook it and I would enjoy it. With that being said, you can imagine that I did not figure out how to properly cook my cod for fish tacos until the third try, but hey, third time is always the charm.
This baked fish recipe is flavorful and easy to make. Seriously, I am no Alton Brown, but I think I have cooking and seasoning cod down to a science now.
What to ask your butcher
If you are buying fish from a grocery store butcher, chances are the fish has been frozen and is thawing while sitting in the case – unless otherwise noted. Be sure to ask the butcher how long the fish has been sitting out before you buy it. You definitely do not want to end up with bad fish when you get home. Of course, you can also buy frozen packages of fish (Kroger and Meijer typically offer good deals on it), just make sure that it is wild-caught.
Lets taco \’bout toppings
Fish tacos are all about the toppings! You can go simple or prepare a slaw for the top. The choice is yours.
My favorite fish taco toppings include:
Pineapple salsa
Mango + peach salsa
Coleslaw
Fresh lime juice
Pico de gallo
Guacamole
How long do you need to bake fish?
Bake time for fish varies depending on a few different things:
The type of fish
The weight of the fish
What you are baking the fish in
The oven temperature
The larger the filet of fish, the longer it will take to bake. For instance, I cooked 1 pound of fish at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and it took about 15 minutes.
What type of tortillas is best for fish tacos?
This is all about your preference. I personally prefer flour tortillas street taco size, but corn tortillas will work great as well.
Baked Cod Fish Tacos Details
1. Preheat oven to 400ºF
2. Cover a baking dish or cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil
3. Remove fish from the refrigerator and use a paper towel to blot the fish and remove excess moisture
4. Place the fish into the baking dish or onto the cookie sheet
5. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with cajun seasoning
6. Bake cod at 400ºF for 12-16 minutes – the bake time will vary based on the thickness of the fish
7. When fish is done, remove it from the oven. Fish is done when it flakes apart easily with a fork
8. Use two forks to carefully break the fish up into larger chunks
9. Assemble your tacos to your liking
10. Enjoy!
Updated 2020-2021 Broadway in Detroit Season
originally scheduled for June 9-21, 2020 will now appear at the Fisher Theatre, January 12-24, 2021.
originally scheduled for July 29 – August 9, 2020 will now appear at the Detroit Opera House, January 27 – February 7, 2021.
originally scheduled for May 5-17, 2020 will now appear at the Fisher Theatre, May 4-9, 2021.
Fashion meets Food 