Fall's cool days filled with brilliant color and crisp afternoons are perfect for having friends over for wine and cheese. This easy to assemble platter is bursting with color, texture and taste. Paired with my favorite Sangria, you have the makings for a fabulous autumn afternoon!

 

 

 

The key for creating a tasty cheese platter is variety, in taste, texture , and color.

For this platter I chose a creamy St. Andre, a nice big wedge adds height and shape. Next, a Huntsman for the unique combo of a tangy blue cheese and a sharp cheddar, it also is a great color addition. Goat cheese are among my all-time favorites, I add goat cheese to salads, toasts, and stuff chicken breasts, all delicious! Here, I added a nice round wheel to compliment the other cheeses. 

For height and to mix it up, add a glass and fill it with nuts or dried fruit. I season and toast these pecans and keep them in my pantry in an air tight container. I love them in salads and just to snack on, yes, I do like accessories!

Next, place grapes around the glass, and then add crackers, again, variety in texture, taste, and color. I used a mix of hearty wheat, light water crackers, and mini cheese biscuits. To top it off I sprinkle on dried apricots and add a few lady apples for color and a little wow!

Add the wine and it looks like a party to me!

 

Tip:

Look for a local cheese shop and don't be afraid to ask for help, just remember to get a variety, best of all, they give samples!

 

Wine Pairings:

 

Go for a full bodied, fruity  chardonnay, many of my favorites are from California.

Choose a lighter red, one that won't take over the flavors of the cheese, Chile has great offerings that are bursting with flavor and light on the wallet. 

 

 

Tasty Pecans

 

You'll Need:

2 cups pecans

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ginger

 

 

In a shallow bowl soak pecans in boiling water for 15 minutes. Drain well. Place on a baking sheet and toast for 45 minutes at 300 degrees.

Remove from the oven, whisk together with remaining ingredients and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Let cool. Pecans keep in an air tight container for up to 3 weeks.

 

 

Sassy Sangria

 

Colorful, lively and full-flavored Sangria is a perfect compliment for the cheese platter.

 

 

You'll Need:

Two bottles dry red wine, such as Pinot Noir

2 cups orange juice

1 cup Cointreau

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 each oranges,limes, and lemons sliced thin

2 cups chilled sparkling water

 

Combine wine, orange juice, Cointreau, lime juice and fruit slices in the pitcher and mix well. Chill for up to an hour. Just before serving, slowly pour in the sparkling water. Add the ice cubes and serve.