I am sure we all know that the holiday season means lots of family and friends are guaranteed to be stopping by! It’s always a struggle for me to find exactly the right thing to serve at big gatherings. I want to feed everyone, but I don’t want to be stuck cooking or cleaning all night.

My ultimate go-to holiday solution is always a huge antipasti platter. I love all the different flavors and textures. You can really have a lot of fun with it! The real bonus is it requires very little effort and it always looks stunning. I chose a large chalkboard platter to serve my meats and cheese on. This is such a fun idea because it looks great and you can also label everything individually. You could also use a large wooden tray or cutting board to serve with.

If you want to build the best antipasti platter, the first thing you have to do is start with the charcuterie selection from Pig of the Month. It. Is. Awesome. The cured meats and sausages are to die for and your guests will all be fawning over them. I especially love the Tasso pork shoulder - it’s so flavorful! With one quick purchase you have your meats covered, so it’s on to the cheeses. I recommend purchasing about 4-6 different types of cheeses. You can get really fancy or go very simple depending on your preference (and budget!). I went with some classics like aged Gruyere and Parmesan, but I mixed it up with a little Merlot Bellavitano (a new favorite of mine) and Talleggio.

Don’t forget the bread and crackers! I like to give my guests as much variety as I can. Everyone gets so excited by all the different combination possibilities! This time I went with assorted crackers and sliced French bread, which I toasted under the broiler for a minute or so.

I like to round out my platter of meats and cheese with a few little extras for guests to pick at throughout the evening. I love the combination of meat, cheese, and dried fruit so I included pitted dates, dried apricots and dried cranberries.

I also am addicted to the combination of fig jam and goat cheese (seriously the two best flavors in the world), so I’ll set out the fig jam as well as assorted nuts.

I invite you to try this antipasti spread at your next party! You’ll impress your guests, keep them fed, and actually have time to enjoy yourself. It’s a win-win-win! Oh, also don't forget the wine! 

Photos & Platter by Meghan Bassett

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