How to Make a Decorative Cheese & Fruit Tray

Decorative cheese and fruit platters are often arranged on a board.

With a little planning just about anyone can create a beautiful cheese and fruit tray. The components are chosen for their contrasting colors and textures and are usually served with crackers and crusty bread. It is most appropriate to use the more exotic cheeses rather than just mozzarella or Monterey jack; Cheddar, with its sharp, hearty flavor, is always popular. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Choose an attractive platter that's large enough to accommodate a variety of cheeses and fruits. It can be any shape and made from china, glass or wood. Chopping boards or bread boards make great bases for cheese and fruit platters. Cover a less attractive platter with a large cloth napkin, a doily or aluminum foil.

2. Choose 3 to 5 different cheeses of varying color and texture. Brie, probably the most popular soft cheese, should be served whole, with its wrapping intact; semisoft cheeses, such as Bleu or Stilton, should be served in chunks. Smoked and semi-hard cheeses should be cut into wedges. Hard cheeses, like Cheddar, should be cut into cubes to allow for air circulation. Gouda should be served whole, in its attractive red wax casing.

3. Plan to use 3 to 5 different fruits. Use black and green grapes, strawberries, sliced melon and cantaloupe, chunked pineapple pieces, kiwi fruit, sliced red apples (with the skin on), or pears. Dried fruit is also an option; dried apricots and apples are very attractive.

4. Add two different types of crackers or one type of cracker and some breadsticks. Place crusty bread and butter on a separate platter adjacent to the cheese and fruit, if desired.

5. Arrange the components on the platter to maximize color variation. Add cheese knives and cocktail sticks. Your guests will compliment you.

References

• whatscookingamerica.net:Fruit and Cheese Platters
• bgmeals.com:Cheese Platter

Resources

• Read this Article in UK English