Farmhouse Holiday Cheese Board

 

Cheese Boards! My go-to for Holiday parties. They're delicious, easy, a tad fancy and festive with fresh greens or berries. If you follow me on Instagram then you saw my stories of making this exact cheese board.

 

 

 

 The great thing about a cheese board is that there are no rules. You can add anything you want, and more importantly anything you have in your fridge/pantry. Sometimes I add fruit (fresh and dried).

 

First things first - you need a great wooden board. My sister-in-law got me mine several years ago for a wedding present. Add a piece of fresh greenery.

 

 

 

Cheese comes next. I like several different kinds, mix it up a bit. Something sweet, something savory, maybe something a little spicy.  Lately my go to's are (from left to right) crème brie, blue, blueberry, Dill Havarti and lastly Morel and Leek.

 

 



 

 Look at how pretty....

 

 

Add a couple of different kinds of crackers and salamis..... Be messy, make it look rustic, you don't want everything lined up perfectly.

 



 

 

 

And another picture because its just so darn pretty.... ;)

 

 

Next up I added jalapeno stuffed olives for some heat, sliced herb roasted baguette, and breadsticks for some dimension. 

 

 

 Sprinkle shelled pistachios for a little more of a "messy" look and add fresh herbs. For this one I did Bay leaves, but for Christmastime Rosemary is perfect too.

Wintertime pie crust cutouts to make it a little festive.

 

That's it..... You can whip this up in about 15 minutes. Depending on my crowd and if I am able to get "fancy cheeses" I have even sliced up sharp cheddar and added to the board too. Take a look at my cheese boards throughout the years. I have something different in each one.

Have a blessed and joyous Holiday Season.... I have some fun posts planned for the blog, now here's to actually doing it. Things have been pretty busy around here getting ready for our sweet boy.

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Fall Farmhouse Table Setting

I typically do things very simple in my home. To me, the motto of less is more has always applied to my decorating. I tend to get a little carried away at Christmastime, but still overall things are very minimal (minus my 7 trees) and it still looks like "my house" as opposed to some department store during the Holidays.



My fall décor, which you will see the first of next week is no different. A few simple bright orange pumpkins, some bunches of wheat, and a few fun bats on the fireplace. While my table settings in the summertime is still also very casual; oftentimes a big ol watermelon ripening in the sun is the focal point of the table. If the table is set it's just my casual white dinnerware and sometimes an indoor fern with small American flags stuck in the sides.

For me, this table is very stuffed and full. It feels like Thanksgiving - with the different elements of some copper mugs for some fall cider, or tall wine glasses for a perfect burgundy with dinner, and a big turkey platter filled with apples and pumpkins and gourds.

 

I need to start investing in good tablecloths for the seasons. For this setting I prefer the "rustic feel" that this bare table brings. It makes it a little less formal and a little more casual. Good food, friends and conversation will be gathered around this table.

 

 

I'm working on collecting some fall dinnerware. I have about two settings of this beautiful Spode Woodland Dinnerware. I have the Spode Christmas dishes passed down from my mom, so I am working on the fall set myself, isn't it beautiful.

This year I am using my Pottery Barn Emma Collection everyday dishes accompanied with these adorable Pottery Barn watercolor pumpkin appetizer plate. It's a whimsical and casual look as opposed to the more formal look once I collect the rest of my Spode Woodland Collection.... in probably ten more years. ;)

 

I am ready for cooler temps and crunchy leaves.... I hope this table setting gives you some inspiration  - I'll be back next week with indoor and outdoor fall décor of our farmhouse. 

 

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Country Tomato Tart

Would you look at all of that color.... coming from a girl who likes everything white in her home, and wears really only shades of white and different shades of blue, I love this dish. It's beautiful.... It's easy, light, delicious and just something fun to make.

 

 
I think I snapped 117 photos - so I had to some major removing when it came time to put this post together.



Back to the Country Tomato Tart....

This is the stuff that will give this dish great flavor.... crank it up a notch.... add extras, I did....

 

The herbs, the lemon, the salt... I could eat this with a spoon. 

 



 

Lay out your sheets of Phyllo Dough on a parchment lined baking dish preferably with sides and brush each layer with olive oil. 

 

 

I know it looks like a lot of oil but I promise its not... The sheets are so thin it appears that way. Brushing with oil gives them a little flavor and helps them brown nicely.

 

Add ricotta mixture to the top.

Then layer with sliced tomatoes.

 

 

 

Top with remaining herbs and generous amount of salt and pepper.

Bake for 30 minutes or until ricotta is warm and dough is browned.

I got these adorable plates earlier this summer at Pottery Barn - I have them hanging on the side of my kitchen window and change them out seasonally...

See - aren't they just the cutest. I've got my eye on some pumpkin ones from fall.



My farmer was grilling some burgers for dinner, so this was the perfect little side dish/appetizer that we nibbled on while flipping burgers and talking about our day. With harvest coming so soon I am really treasuring these lazy evenings that we have together...

 

 

Country Tomato Tart

 

Ingredients

·         1 roll (about 21 sheets) Fillo Dough

·         ¼ cup olive oil, roughly

·         1 ¾  cups ricotta cheese

·         1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, plus more for topping

·         1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, plus more for topping

·         ½ teaspoon lemon zest

·         Juice from ½ lemon

·         Salt and pepper, to taste

·         1½ to 2 lbs tomatoes, sliced to ¼-inch thickness (and/or grape tomatoes, sliced in half)

Directions

1.      Heat oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.      Lay 1 sheet of fillo dough on parchment paper. Brush lightly with olive oil. Top with another sheet of fillo dough; brush lightly with oil. Repeat until all fillo dough sheets are stacked.

3.      In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, basil, chives, lemon zest and juice, and salt and pepper to taste until well combined. Spread evenly on top of fillo dough, leaving a 1-inch border along edges.

4.      Top with sliced or halved tomatoes. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper…. Trust me… Bake    30 minutes until dough is golden brown and flaky.

5.      Cool tart slightly; top with more chopped basil and chives and salt and pepper, if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Farmhouse Memorial Day

We do a little Memorial Day Party every year - it's a fun kick off to summer. Sometimes we just have our family, sometimes we just do friends.... This year we did a Low Country Boil (and some fried fish at the request of my farmer)....It's a fun, fun menu, kinda pricey, but super easy.

I add flags ALL OVER the farm for Memorial Day - take a look at the house all decked out for the party plus some new landscaping.

Love this view of our house  - it's always been a favorite of mine.

Bunting added to the front porch. 

Anyone spot my sweet little girl ? 

Anyone spot my farmer ;)

The day I was taking pictures my farmer was being silly and posed for a couple.... I love how fun he makes this life of ours.

Some new landscaping.... lots of boxwoods, a couple of hydrangeas, and more white impatient (which get entirely too much sun here).... 

Don't mind my white cushions.... They are needing to be upholstered, these are just the bare cushion. It might be a good fall project if we can make it through the summer.

Those little gingham Ralph Lauren pillows add just the right little touch.

The swing bed - full of fluffy pillows. I have a twin sized mattress that is in the middle of getting upholstered. I have read a book and swayed on that swing bed more times thing Spring than I can count.

And now for a few party pictures....

These cookies were such a hit. I love the extra little charm that they add to the party. And see how cute they are. Potatoes, corn, lobster and lemons... 

Sliced watermelon with popsicle sticks - super easy for kiddos. 

I had some clothe and some paper napkins.... I just love the red gingham.

The main event..... Shrimp, crab, bread, lemons, sausage, corn..... I am getting hungry just thinking of it. 

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