How to make a Charcuterie Board

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Blue Diamond®. The opinions and text are all my own.

The holidays are in full swing and one of my favorite things to make is a charcuterie board. Not only are charcuterie boards gorgeous, but there's guaranteed to be something to nibble on for everyone.

It's perfect for lunch, a mid-day nibble, or to keep everyone content until dinner. It is a must for all your holiday parties, and a real show stopper if you've been put in charge of the appetizers this year.

Even though we have tons of goodies packed into this charcuterie board, my favorite part is the Blue Diamond® Gourmet Pink Himalayan Salt, Rosemary and Sea Salt Almonds and Garlic Herb and Olive Oil Almonds. They just so happen to be exclusive to Walmart in the 10 ounce bag. I know you need to stash a few in your cupboard too! Walmart makes it easy to stock up on your favorite items.

The first time I tried them I figured it would be easy to pick a favorite, but all the flavors are equally irresistible, and just as decadent as homemade flavored almonds. I find having a variety of flavored almonds, and cheeses to be a good conversation starter.

It's always nice to have something to talk about that breaks the ice, and it’s fun to try something new.

Then we choose Blue Diamond® Almond Nut-Thins as our crackers. These pair perfectly with the strong flavors of meat and cheese.

These are a new staple in our house for snacking. We also adore the smokehouse flavor, and in the future I will be making a place on the charcuterie board for both. They are made from rice flour and almonds and are guilt-free with just 130 calories for 16 crackers! They really go well with just about anything.

You can find the Blue Diamond Gourmet Almonds, and Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins in the salty snacks and cracker aisle at your local Walmart.

To make the charcuterie board, I started out by choosing a board to place everything on. This time we just used a simple pizza board, but a cutting board or marble slab works equally well. Even a large flat tray would work.

We chose a few different kinds of cheese. I like to choose one or two that most people will like, and then something a little more unusual for everyone to try. I find it easiest to arrange the cheese on the tray first, and make a little mental map of how I want the board to look.

Next, I add the items that are going to be in containers. We always add olives and sometimes, pickles. This time, I found an orange fig jam (that paired deliciously with everything) that I used for something sweet on the board. We also served a grainy mustard on the side. I just didn't have enough room on the board.

Just like the cheese, we usually use the same number of different kinds of meats. On this occasion we did a peppered salami, regular salami, and a prosciutto. We arranged each of the meats differently by laying the peppered salami, rolling the regular salami, and folding the prosciutto like ribbons. I find this adds a nice visual contrast to the board.

Then we tucked in a few different kinds of fruit. We almost always add grapes. The red pears were deliciously ripe, making them a perfect pairing choice. We added a few kiwis for color, and some berries. You can really choose any fruit you love to pair with cheese and almonds.

I then placed the 3 different kinds of Blue Diamond Gourmet Almonds I purchased at Walmart strategically on the board, and layered the Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins in their place.

Finally, I tucked in a few sprigs of rosemary for a little extra contrast of color. Any small green herb you have on hand could do the job. I just adore the way fresh rosemary smells, and think it's a great option.

A great charcuterie board is a holiday must, but also something you'll find yourself making throughout the year!

By keeping a few staples on hand like the Blue Diamond Gourmet Almonds, Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins, and a few cheeses, you can toss this board together for a lazy weekend afternoon of snacking, or unexpected company.

Make sure to check out the Blue Diamond website for more delicious holiday entertaining inspiration.