We will all be having a different Christmas this year with varying levels of restrictions due to COVID. Your Christmas dinner menu may be the same, or you may be trying something different this year. Cooking for two on the boat isn’t hard, but I’m thinking about trying something different this year, a Christmas dinner board!
2020 has brought lots of change, so why not change it up for Christmas dinner? COVID has made individual charcuterie mason jars a common thing, so why not skip the formal dinner and try something different this year.
A food board can be whatever you want it to be, it’s essentially tasty food put on a board so you can graze over an extended period of time. If you’re going out on the boat this year for Christmas, instead of coming back from your hike and slaving over the oven or pressure cooker making dinner, put together a food board, pour some festive drinks and enjoy a lovely evening playing a board game while grazing your fantastic eats!
The elements of a charcuterie board are the following:
- Meats
- Cheeses
- Produce
- Crackers/Breads
- Condiments
- Pickled/Marinated Vegetables
When building a food board, you can keep the elements of a charcuterie board in mind to give you ideas for your different components, but experiment!
I know I myself have gotten into the rut of just throwing some cheese, crackers, cured sausage and some olives on a board and calling it a day. Sometimes I’ll throw on some figs, almonds or some jelly depending on what cheese I’m serving, but that’s it. That might be an ok appetizer board, but there are some many great options for boards to for your main course!
A Christmas dinner board can be whatever you want it to be, slices of turkey, roast beef, ham, it’s up to you! Green beans, whole farmed carrots?
Some ideas for your Christmas dinner board:
- Baguette
- Shavings/slices of roast beef or turkey (go your your deli)
- Carrots with greens attached
- Olives/Pickles
- Blue Cheese
- Apricot Stilton
- Goat Cheese
- Nuts
- Green beans
- Grapes
- Preserved Beets
- Salt Spring Island Onion and Thyme Savoury Spread
- Salt Spring Island Cranberry and Pepper Spicy Pepper Spread
A Christmas food board can be whatever you want it to be. If you’re in the mood to try something different for Christmas this year, consider having a food board and eliminate cooking altogether. Simply plate up your board, pour the drinks and enjoy a relaxing afternoon evening on the boat grazing tasty food!
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday season!