Thursday, May 29, 2014

Composing a Beautiful Cheese Platter

You are having company over and you want to impress them with your food and hostessing skills?  A simple place to start is with this beautiful cheese platter, composed a la Ina Garten, of Barefoot Contessa fame.



Ina suggests placing large green leaves on a platter or cutting board, then arranging three cheeses, one hard, one medium, and one soft, on the leaves.  Here, I used a red-leafed lettuce as it complimented the color of the grapes.  Finally, scatter grapes or other fruit around the cheeses, allowing them to flow naturally on the platter.  If you do have mixed fruit, remember to keep like fruits together, as that makes for a more pleasing presentation.  Provide a knife for each cheese, set a plate of assorted crackers nearby, and your guests will be amazed at your culinary prowess.  And you didn't even have to cook a thing!

Sunday, May 25, 2014

I'm Back!

After a long hiatus, I have returned to blogdom.  These past few months have been extraordinarily busy for me; as I have been President of the University Club at our local Big 10 University, I have recently started my own business, Photoscapes by Marilyn, and I ran for County Council. 

My tenure for office as President of the UClub is in its last days, and I was defeated in the Primary for County Council, though I am remaining active in local politics (politics: poli - meaning many and tics - meaning blood sucking arachnids).  I am still working on getting my business off the ground and am trying to turn admiration of my photographs into sales.

Now you are caught up with what has been going on in the Foodie Household.  It's good to be back!



Peonies from my garden.