Delicious & Easy Charcuterie Board

charcuterie board with meat cheese and snacks

We’ve seen charcuterie boards that look so good, our mouths starts to water! We could live off them if our hips, thighs and stomach could tolerate all the goodness 24/7. We finally made a charcuterie board piled with meats, cheeses, nuts, crackers, snacks and fruit for a backyard get together. We want to share what we loved on it, and what we would add next time. It’s the perfect appetizer when you host guests for dinner. You don’t even have to know how to cook – you just have to find what tastes good, and place it nicely on a pretty wood serving tray.

We might make it a weekly dinner thing, just one night a week…paired with a glass of wine, of course. Who’s in?!

charcuterie board with meat and cheese

Cheese

  • One of our favorite cheeses these days is Boursin. Oh my goodness, it is so insanely good. Costco sells a three-pack of Boursin cheese, and you can find at the local grocery store, too.
  • Also delicious is Manchego cheese. We love to get the big block from Costco. It’s good plain, with crackers, and even with fig spread on top.
  • Goat cheese with fig spread on top. Yummy!

Meat

  • A salami is good to include on the board. I loved the Murray’s Calabrese salami we used.
  • Pepperoni, like an authentic Italian pepperoni stick you cut into slices.
  • Candied bacon would be dreamy on this board, too.

charcuterie board with meat and cheese

Fruit

  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Grapes
  • Strawberries
  • Apples, sliced

Extras

  • Hummus. We love Sabra classic hummus.
  • Carrots, that can be eaten plain or with the hummus, or Boursin
  • Pickles, small bite sized ones
  • Corn nuts
  • Nuts, such as candied nuts, Marcona almonds with rosemary (a personal favorite), cashews, etc.

charcuterie board with meat and cheese

Crackers/Pretzels

  • Gluten free pretzels. These are great plain, or dipped in hummus, or with the Boursin cheese. We like Pretzel Crisps or Snyder’s of Hanover gluten free pretzels.
  • Crackers. If you have not tried these Simple Mills Almond Flour crackers and you are gluten free, you need to run to the store right now to buy them. If you are not gluten free, you still need to run to the store to buy a box of these. They are THAT good. We buy them in bulk at Costco on a regular basis. Love them!
  • Dot’s pretzels. OMG, so yummy!

charcuterie board with meat and cheese

hostess with charcuterie board with meats and cheeses

Tell us, what are we missing? What do you love on your charcuterie board?

Looks how pretty these wood serving boards are*:
Target Acacia Serving Platter
Enzo White Serving Board (love this one)
Wooden Serving Plank, West Elm
Acacia Cheese Board, Pottery Barn
Mateo Paddle Serving Board, Crate and Barrel

*This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting our blog. 

DIY Hostess Gift: Crayon Candles

DIY crayon candle craft and hostess gift with kids

We melted crayon wax a couple weeks ago, and the project we shared with Momtastic quickly became one of our favorite DIY hostess gifts. We haven’t actually given any of the DIY candles away because we love what our kids created so much, they are on display in our homes.

Learn how we made the DIY custom art melted crayon candles here.

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gift guide for the hostess

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know we have so much to be grateful for, so it was a special day for us to be with family and friends, and enjoy the love all around us. I was the one who cried {tears of joy} as I said what I was thankful for at the dinner table. I definitely got the ‘crying’ gene as we call it in my family – actually I think all 3 of us did – the gene that has us in tears for every toast and prayer at holidays and special events. It all started with grandma.

Now, we’re in Christmas mode. Hard to believe the jolly man comes down the chimney in about 3.5 weeks. Some of you may be shopping Black Friday deals today…wish I was doing a little retail therapy!

If your shopping today, or opt for a calmer day to shop, add some of our favorite hostess gifts below to your shopping list. It’s a nice gesture to bring a little something for the host/hostess – and he or she will be sure to enjoy any of these items.

Happy Shopping.

1. Cocktail Chatter Napkins, Anthropologie
2. Personalized Placemat, EInvite
3. Jar with Chalkboard Label {filled with cookies, of course}, Pier1
4. Santa Poo Pourri {spritz before you go, and no one will ever know – it totally works}, Amazon
5. Rosemary Tree, Terrain
6. Naughty and Nice Sock by Gumball Poodle, Urban General Store
7. Mr. and Mrs. Holiday Glasses, Furbish Studio
8. Holiday Basket with Mini Candles, Crate and Barrel
9.  Winter Wonderland dish towel, Anthropologie

{images via EInvite, AmazonPier 1Terrain, Urban General StoreFurbish Studio, Crate and BarrelAnthropologie}

lovely gift ideas for mom

It’s time to make mom feel extra special for this year’s Mother’s Day, and we’ve got some great ideas for you…and in enough time for you to order. I am a mother and I would LOVE all these gifts {hint, hint…wink, wink}.

FOR THE GARDENER

Half Oak Barrel Planter {Home Depot}
this would make for a lovely gift filled with all mom’s favorite flowers
Succulent Wreath {VivaTerra}
Vintage Garden Spoons {Wooden Hive}

FOR THE HIP MOM

Anne Taintor, Mom Story Time Tumbler {Tervis Tumbler}
this company creates high-quality products…and you can customize
Custom Tiles {ImageSnap}
create beautiful tiles of all sizes with your favorite images. create magnets, coasters, wall decor for mom – she will love it
Yosi Samra Two-Tone Fold-Over Ballet Flats {Yosi Samra}
thanks to my friend Shannon {she keeps me so hip}, I am in love with my new flats and wear them all the time
White Poppy Vase {Anthropologie}

FOR ALL MOMS 

Simple Abundance {Amazon}
this would make a wonderful gift for anyone – an essay a day about spirituality, joy and gratitude
Duckie Rain Flats {Anthropologie}
um, yes please!
Salsabol {Fleur de Lis }
never spill salsa again with this sleek bowl
Smith & Hawken Round Basket with Chalkboard {Target}
fill this basket with her favorite things

{images via Image Snap, VivaTerra, Home Depot, Wooden Hive, Anthropologie, Tervis Tumbler, Fleur de Lis, Target and Amazon}

it’s here…

Tre Sorelle’s Favorite Things

“When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad.”

{I can’t help it…yes, that quote is from the classic The Sound of Music}

We’ve remembered our favorite things of 2011 {all at a reasonable price…in fact, today’s list is 5 gifts under $50} to bring a little bit more joy to the season of giving!

A Favorite Things list wouldn’t be complete with giveaways! That’s right, each of you will have a chance to receive a free gift each week leading to Christmas. Every Monday you will see new and wonderful favorite things, and the following day we will offer a giveaway from the list. All you have to do is comment {look for ways to enter tomorrow}…it’s that easy!

This week, think about the lovely HOSTESS in your life…or in you {and add it to your list for Santa}

1. PSA Essentials custom stamp, $40, sold at Fleur de Lis, a paperie: Whether you customize with an address, from the library of or from the kitchen of…this is a gift every hostess will love.
2. Rub A Way Bar, $7.50, Crate and Barrel: Rub away the odors from garlic, fish and other foods with this genius “soap-like” device.
3. Casserole Tote, $48, Vonny: Carry your casserole hassle-free and in style to your next party. {They also started carrying pie totes for $68 that are absolutely adorable}.
4. Red Tartan Plaid Napkins, Set of 4 for $49, Williams-Sonoma: Give a personalized gift your hostess can use throughout the holidays with monogrammed, festive tartan napkins.
5. Onion Goggles, $19.99, Bed, Bath and Beyond: With Onion Goggles you can say goodbye to tearing, stinging and irritated eyes when preparing, chopping, dicing or mincing any kind of onion.  

{images via PSA Essentials, Crate and Barrel, Vonny, Williams-Sonoma, Bed, Bath and Beyond}