This time of year, there are lots of gatherings with friends and family.  I can remember when I worked in the office at a college and the President of the college had a wine and cheese gathering in a beautiful area of her domain for everyone in the office.  So fun on a work day to get an hour break like that on a snowy afternoon.  One lady had a candle at her desk going in the open concept office area and I don’t think much work got done the rest of that afternoon with visitors at desks etc.  Very festive day.

But I really like the cheese boards that people come up with. Some ideas I have seen are Triscuits and Wheat Thins for a hard cheese like Cheddar.  Then Ritz crackers for a soft cheese.  There are usually white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.  Then red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot.   Port Wine goes with dessert.

I liked Barefoot Contessa’s cheese boards for inspiration, also.  She always goes to a cheese shop and picks up three different types of cheese.  Usually a local cheddar, a blue cheese and a soft goat cheese.  Then she puts grapes on the board and fancy crackers.  She likes figs and fig jam, also.

I just like the fire side picnic and wine and cheese that was on Ina Garten’s Holiday special.  She got thick slices of Apple cob smoked ham that she found and a jar of mustard.  She put the goat cheese in a mason jar with a little olive oil over it and some kind of chopped herb on top.  She picked up all her stuff in the Berkshires quaint and beautiful shops where her and her husband went to their friend’s farm.  I have that special on Xfinity on demand and have watched it at least 5 times.  So impressive to me.

It’s a very fun and festive time of year.