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Thursday
Aug112011

A SUMMER CHEESE PLATE.


Ahhh, it feels kind of nice to write a recipe without instructions. This is just to get you thinking beyond the usual, or maybe this is your usual with a few little additions. There is always a reason for a cheese plate, and I think one with a little extra thought goes a long way. We're going camping by the beach this weekend with family, and that's as good a place as any for a cheese plate, if you ask me.

I've catered a handful of dinner parties, and the selections below are some choices I've come to find popular by extremely close survey. We each have our favorites, and you should by all means include yours, but this combination is what makes sense to me for the end of summer. I like to keep the cheeses on the lighter side for warm weather, saving the cheddars, bries and bleus for the cooler months, this being an exception.


PARMIGIANO REGGIANO // RAW COW'S MILK
chisle off a few pieces, drizzle raw honey

CHEVRE // SOFT GOAT'S MILK CHEESE
rolled in finely chopped lemon thyme, chives, pinch of rosemary and ground pepper

MANCHEGO // AGED SHEEP'S MILK
with a bit of apricot jam

BABY MOZZARELLA // FRESH COW'S MILK
with slow roasted yellow tomatoes, basil and balsamic reduction

Here is a recipe for Heidi's tomatoes, mine were so juicy, I used half the oil suggested.
To make your own balsamic reduction, just simmer balsamic vinegar until it reduces to 1/3 of its original volume. Remember it will thicken even more as it cools. I suggest transferring it to some sort of glass vessel before it cools, as it is quite sticky.

Marcona Almonds
Fresh Grapes or Figs
Crostinis
Seeded Crackers
Let the cheese sit out a bit, don't serve it straight from the fridge.
And drink wine with it, because life's short and cheese and wine make all sorts of sense.
(update for those asking) Cheese forks are from Napa Style.

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Reader Comments (89)

So, so beautiful. I LOVE this post. Feel free to carry this on the plane with you. :)

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAshley

My wife would go crazy over those cute little labeled forks. Awesome.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterNick (Macheesmo)

Wonderufl pictures and very enticing cheese plate. I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off of that!

http://glorioffood.com/

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLori

Beautiful, gotta love a summer picnic. We had a great one over the weekend on a small island close to where we live. Sunshine, ocean, sandy toes, friends and great food- you can't go wrong.

Have fun camping!

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMelissa

I love this guys! LOVE CHEESE :) beautiful set up, great selection of cheeses, love the grapes. I would be so stoked to sit down with this and a bottle of wine.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterNicole

this is my most favorite thing in the whole wide world. i love you sprouted kitchen.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterweddingchicks

This is just beautiful! Ridiculously beautiful! You've really outdone yourself and I look forward to trying the goat cheese rolled in assorted herbs VERY soon.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterKyle

I'm not much of a cheese lover, but your plate is a real beauty to look at. And aren't roasted tomatoes simply the best thing ever?

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterDanielle

This is by far the most gorgeous cheese plate I've ever seen. Ridiculously delicious looking as well!
You are inspiring me for my next catering job ;)

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterkate

Wow, look at that! I would like to come to your house, realy, really soon :)

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJacqueline Meldrum

Manchego w/ apricot jam, yes yes, very nice idea.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterDenise | Chez Danisse

YUM. Cheese, champagne grapes, and other goodies -- simple and simply delightful. Happy family beach camping!

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLiezl

Summer on a plate! All it needs is a little glass of rose.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterNicole

Wow, I love this post idea... simple but so useful, appetizing,and pretty! I agree with you that it is a nice change to post ideas of how to compose something instead of real "recipes" sometimes. Thank you so much for sharing this! I hope maybe you'll do more cheese trays for other times of year, or as you find new and cool additions? Or more posts about other combinations of things you like to serve or put together? Love it.

This is exactly what I want for dinner. The photos are SO enticing.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMaria @ Orchard Bloom

This is such a perfect post! I love nothing more than a good cheese platter with a bottle of red.. seeing as it's almost the weekend, you may have inspired me :) x

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterNatashia@foodonpaper

Gorgeous! I could eat cheese plates for dinner every day.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJacky

yum! what a fun post! what a beautiful post! *I sort of have a crush on manchego ;)

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered Commentermaggie

I love cheese plates. Reliable and great for a crowd. Chevre & manchego are my favorite. I've been making a lot of roasted tomatoes this summer. I add them to anything I can.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered Commenteradrienne

You had me at cheese! These mouthwatering photos are in no way helping my cheese addiction ;-) It's a shame raw milk cheeses are banned in Australia!

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMaria @ Scandifoodie

Okay, now I definitely need to grab a few folks and have a wine and cheese night!

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAshley @ The Drunk Squash

so beautiful and looks so good! when I think of summer I always think of a cheese plate.

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered Commentercaroline

What a beautiful plate!

August 11, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterTender B.

OH MY GOSH that looks amazing!!!

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterSally

this looks so amazing!

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterBrodie

I am totally freaked out by your forks!
did you photoshop the handles out?!

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterserena

Gorgeous! I could easily make a meal out of a cheese plate, and this one covers all of the bases :).

Sara, this is lovely. Cheese and wine is one of our favorite "dinners." I've never known what to do with manchego - will try the apricot jam! Looking forward to your fall/winter cheese plate. ;)

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJen O

YUM!! All of it, just looks so yummy.

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterShelby

Sometimes it's nice to be reminded of great, simple preparations that are still show stoppers. Great inspiration! Thanks for sharing.

@serena - the forks are sold that way. They are stamped cheese forks from Napa Style catalog.

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterSara

Cheese?! You rock my world. I love those fork-markers, too. What a fun idea! Have a beautiful weekend, lovely.

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterKasey

wow awesome photography!

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterShokoofeh

What a perfectly timed post! I was planning on a wine and cheese night for my 23rd birthday next week -- I'll be trying some of these, for sure.

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLaken

Oh lord, this is the yummiest thing I have seen all week. I want it. Just give me a bottle of wine to go with it.

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLisa @ The Cooking Bride

This is a cheese lover's heaven!

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJanet

amazing photos ... some of my favorites on this blog lately. and those little cheese forks are adorable! on a cleanse right now, and this looks oh so tempting! yum.

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAubrey

champagne grapes!!! favorite. and figs. and all cheese. beautiful. this is why you are amazing.

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterCandace

Perfect! I have company coming tomorrow this is fabulous inspiration.
Thank you

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterKatlin R

We were just in Spain and fell in love with Manchego...if you haven't tried it yet, try the Viejo (it's aged for one year)with some crusty bread and a little red wine...it's incredible!
http://www.cookhacker.com/" rel="nofollow">Cookhacker

Absolutely beautiful! I looooove cheese platter. All you need to add is some dark chocolate and dried fruit. yummmm!!

Gorgeous picture of the plate! I love those forks without the handles, they're quite cute and unusual.

August 12, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJenny

Wow! Beautiful!

August 13, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnne

Stunning! is there a better summer meal?

August 13, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterJulie

Wow that looks amazing. I love the idea of bringing this to a party, thanks for the idea!

August 13, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterLe Man and Wife

did someone say cheese? because if so, i'm THERE. with the cheese. in my face.
seriously, i love a good cheese plate. my son does too. what's not to love?

August 14, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterBrittany

What a beautiful cheese plate! Very inspiring!

August 14, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterSandi

These are wonderful ideas! I'm making a big cheese platter this week when some friends come over, and I'm taking inspiration from this beautiful platter.

August 14, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterKatie@Cozydelicious

[...] A SUMMER CHEESE PLATE. } Recipe from Sprouted [...]

August 14, 2011 | Unregistered Commenter{ A Food Finding } « Mot

beautiful! my dad's favorite dinner is a cheese platter - cheeses always accompanied by grapes and dark chocolate. i love the addition of nuts and rolling the cheese in fresh herbs...

August 14, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterrobyn

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