Char-boo-terie, char-spook-erie…or scare-cuterie? A charcuterie board is a crowd-pleasing hostess offering, as it is customizable based on party size and offers a variety of options to please various taste buds. It also makes for a festive treat to bring to a Halloween get-together – because walking into a party empty-handed is frightening.
Whatever you decide to call it, here are some ideas on how to make your charcuterie offerings extra spooky:
- Spider web guacamole. Start with homemade or store-bought guacamole. Add a dollop of sour cream in a snack size zip bag and cut a small hole in the corner. Squeeze the sour cream to the hole and use this to draw a web on top of a bowl of sour cream. Be sure to offer some cut veggies and tortilla chips for serving.
- Olive eyeballs. Carve out the middle of a small mozzarella ball/pearl and fill with an olive. Wrap the mozzarella ball with salami and secure with a toothpick.
- Pretzel eyes are watching you. Place edible eyes on dark chocolate-covered pretzels using melted chocolate.
- Strawberry ghosts. Make white chocolate-covered strawberry ghosts with mini chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth.
- Pretzel brooms. Cut mozzarella sticks in thirds and cut 1/8-inch slits, leaving ¼-inch uncut at the base. Turn the mozzarella to the side and repeat the cuts. Secure a pretzel stick by inserting it into the uncut area.
- Festive Brie. Cut a wheel of Brie cheese in half and use a pumpkin or ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the middle of the lid. Before placing the lid back on, spread a jam on the exposed creamy Brie. Save the cutout for consumption.
To make the healthy choice the easy choice, be sure to balance the cheeses, cured meats and crackers with plenty of veggie spears and fruits. Blackberries along with peeled mandarins make for spooky fruit choices.
Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan based in Detroit. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family. For more information and recipes, visit ahealthiermichigan.org.
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