sweet + simple cheeseboard ft. castello

 

do you want to know what my favourite part of the many holiday gatherings are (hint: it isn't the desserts).. the cheeseboards!!!! oh how much i LOVE the cheeseboards. i could literally eat it as the main course & call it a day. my family being the italians we are is all about putting several different cheesy appetizer platters together over the christmas season. i think my sister wins when it comes to who eats the most cheese off the platters.. if she could put the whole brick of cheese on her plate she most definitely would. anyways, i am so excited to be teaming up with Castello this season to share two of my own cheeseboard pairings with you! one sweet & one savoury. this is my sweet & simple cheeseboard. it is made with mild, softer Castello cheeses & paired with different fruits + nuts.

the first thing i decide on when putting together the platter is the assortment of cheese i will include of course! for this board i went with Castello's brie cheese & Castello's extra creamy danish blue. brie is a softer mild white cheese. i don't think i have ever met a single person who doesn't love brie cheese, so this is always a must. brie pairs well with honey, jam, grapes & dried apricots. i provided a variety of toppings for the cheeseboard so my guests can explore different flavour combinations & textures. the extra creamy danish blue is a milder blue cheese that contains extra fresh cream. this richer (but milder) blue cheese is an ideal accompaniment for the fruits + nuts. i also included almonds & candied walnuts that i make myself, they make the best snack and compliment this cheeseboard perfectly!

i hope you enjoy my sweet & simple cheeseboard! below is the ingredient list for this board, including the recipe for my candied walnuts. check back in a few weeks when i share my savoury bold & blue cheeseboard platter, you won't want to miss it!

ingredients

for the cheeseboard

for the candied nuts

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 pinch of cinnamon
  • 1 cup whole walnuts or whole pecans (or a mix of both)

directions

for the cheeseboard

  • place the brie & blue cheese onto desired cheeseboard. arranged all other ingredients around it & garnish with fresh sage if desired.

for the candied nuts

  • preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • in a sauce pan over medium-low heat add sugar, honey, water, salt & cinnamon. bring to a boil & cook for a couple minutes to ensure the sugar has dissolved.
  • remove from heat & stir in walnuts & pecans. transfer nuts to a lined cookie sheet & bake for 10-15 minutes, tossing in between.
  • remove from heat & let cool to room temperature. store left over in a sealed jar.

this post was created in partnership with Castello cheese! thank you for supporting the brands that keep me doing what i love. xo

salted caramel apple crisp

 

who is ready for another apple recipe?! of course this one has to have some salted caramel sauce incorporated too. when i was out for a walk in my new neighbourhood this past weekend, i discovered just down the street from me is ANOTHER apple orchard (um, i love this place). i don't know how i didn't discover that sooner, this one was beyond cute. i knew it was time to purchase another bushel full & get baking.

i don't really think it is possible to ever get sick of apple desserts. there are too many! one of my favourites growing up was apple crisp & this one my mom said is the best apple crisp i have ever made. i think that is saying a LOT. instead of just finishing it off with salted caramel i even tossed the apples in salted caramel sauce before baking. you can always use store bought, but i highly reccomend making it yourself! nothing will come close to this flavour & i even made a simple video on NOM last month on how to make it. hope you have a lovely weekend & who knows what i will discover next in this quaint little hood of mine:)

ingredients

for the salted caramel

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)

for the filling

  • 3 lbs baking apples, peeled + cored + thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup salted caramel
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

for the topping

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold & cubed
  • salted caramel, for topping
  • whipped cream, for topping

directions

for the salted caramel

  • in a saucepan add the sugar and water. bring the pan to a boil while wiping down the crystals that form on the sides of the pan using a pastry brush (do not stir, i repeat, do NOT stir).
  • continue to boil until the mixture turns to a deep amber colour, approximately 5 minutes. be sure not to burn the caramel! it will go from a deep amber to burnt sugar VERY quickly.
  • remove from heat and immediately whisk in the butter, cream, salt & vanilla.
  • cool to room temperature before using in recipe. can be made in advance!

for the filling

  • preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • in a large mixing bowl toss the apples, sugar, caramel, cornstarch, vanilla & lemon juice.
  • add to baking dish & set aside while you prepare your topping.

for the topping

  • in a large mixing bowl whisk the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt & walnuts.
  • add in the cubed butter & work into the mixture until pea sized crumbs are formed.
  • evenly disperse over the apples & bake for one hour.
  • remove from oven & drizzle with additional salted caramel.
  • serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

like what you see? get it here. copper pan | ramekin | linen | porcelain paper plate