A vibrant platter featuring cheeses, cured meats, fruits, nuts styled like a wheat field and turkey.
# Components:
→ Cheeses
01 - 5.3 oz sharp cheddar cheese, sliced
02 - 5.3 oz Swiss cheese, sliced
03 - 5.3 oz creamy brie, sliced or in wedges
04 - 3.5 oz gouda, cubed
→ Cured Meats
05 - 3.5 oz prosciutto
06 - 3.5 oz salami, sliced
07 - 3.5 oz smoked turkey breast, sliced
→ Crackers & Bread
08 - 5.3 oz whole wheat crackers
09 - 5.3 oz multigrain crackers
10 - 1 small baguette, sliced
→ Fresh Fruits
11 - 1 small bunch green grapes
12 - 1 small bunch red grapes
13 - 1 pear, sliced
14 - 1 apple, sliced
15 - 1/2 cup dried apricots
16 - 1/3 cup dried cranberries
→ Nuts & Garnishes
17 - 1/2 cup roasted almonds
18 - 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
19 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
20 - 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
→ For Decoration
21 - 1 mini pumpkin or gourd (turkey body)
22 - Pretzel sticks (wheat stalks and turkey feathers)
23 - 2 black olives (turkey eyes)
24 - 1 small piece red bell pepper (wattle)
25 - 1 small triangle yellow cheese (beak)
# Directions:
01 - Position the mini pumpkin or gourd at the bottom center of a large wooden board to represent the turkey's body.
02 - Fan out the sliced prosciutto, salami, and smoked turkey breast above the pumpkin to simulate the turkey's tail feathers, alternating colors and textures.
03 - Form arcs radiating from the turkey body using the assorted sliced cheeses to mimic wheat field rows.
04 - Arrange whole wheat crackers, multigrain crackers, and baguette slices in lines or curves to evoke wheat stalks.
05 - Artfully place clusters of grapes, apple and pear slices, along with dried apricots and cranberries, around the cheeses and meats.
06 - Fill remaining gaps on the board with roasted almonds, shelled pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and fresh rosemary sprigs for texture and visual interest.
07 - Insert pretzel sticks among the cheeses and fruits and along the edges of the board to enhance the wheat stalk effect.
08 - Attach black olives as eyes, a piece of red bell pepper as the wattle, and a small triangle of yellow cheese as the beak to the front of the pumpkin or gourd using toothpicks if needed.
09 - Serve the assembled board immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
