Fall evenings are a wonderful time to stay in and enjoy the company of great friends with a savory platter and a good bottle of wine!
Small platters are really easy to build and will definitely make a big impression with your friends. The two key factors to keep in mind when building a small platter is (1) keep it simple and (2) keep it neat. Small platters should look well organized. Too much food and not placed properly can create a messy and disorganized platter.
If this is your first time building a platter, this 'Fall with Friends" platter is very easy to assemble. There is some prep work, however if you want to make the task even easier pick up prepared veggie packages at your local market.
Shopping List
I kept this platter really simple. A couple of cheeses, some salami and fresh veggies will be all you need to bring this platter together. Before heading out to your local market, check your fridge first. The best thing about small platters is you can always use up cheeses, meats and veggies that are lingering in your fridge as you only need a small amount.
Shopping List
Vegetables - Small Peppers, Small Carrots, Mini Cucumbers, Grape Tomatoes
Fruits - Grapes, 1 x Kiwifruit
Cheese - Smoked Gouda Cheese, Drunken Goat Cheese, Provolone Rounds
Meats - Genoa Salame
Crackers - 3 x Artisan Crackers
Condiments - Pickles, Olives
Spread - Sea Salt & Olive Oil Hummus
Herb & Floral - Rosemary, Basil
Let's begin...
Select a wood board. The wood board I used to create Fall with Friends platter is approximately 17" x 12". I actually found this board in the clearance section of a local store and it has become one of my favorite boards to build a small platter on. When looking at a board, don't be discouraged by the knots and different grain colors. Knots and grains give the board beautiful character!
Always expose some of the wood. Your board is the foundation that frames your platter.
Place 3 bowls. These will hold dips and condiments. Mixing up different bowl textures will make your platter visually pleasing.
Platter Layout
Use the images as your guide!
Step 1: Place pickles and olives into 2 of your bowls. Keep the center bowl empty. We will be adding our dip into the center bowl at the end.
Step 2: Add your sliced Smoked Gouda and Drunken Goat cheese to both ends of the platter. Add sliced Genoa salami and provolone cheese rounds in a diagonal pattern along the length of your bowls.
Step 3: Colorful Peppers - cut into strips.
Step 4: Mini Cucumbers - cut in strips and circles.
Step 5: Small Carrots.
Step 6: Fill in with Tomatoes, Grapes and 2 Kiwifruit Flowers.
Step 7: Place Artisan Crackers around one of the bowls, behind the Smoked Gouda and beside the Drunken Goat Cheese. Having crackers beside the cheeses makes for a good pairing.
Step 8: Add Hummus into the center bowl.
Step 9: Garnish with rosemary and a basil leaf in the Hummus - just as a finishing touch!
Let's stay in...
Its always nice when I have the opportunity to go out with friends, but if I am being honest, I love it when my friends come over to our house. There is something wonderful about just 'staying in'.
Having all the comforts of home while serving a savory platter of comfort food makes for a cosy and fun evening.
Enjoy!
*** If you give this platter a try, don't forget to take a picture of it and send it me. Would love to see your platter! :)
A big thank you to Milton's Crackers for selecting Savory Platters as their 'Fan Inspo of the Month'
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