Last week the dude was out of town so we had a little impromptu girls night.
I decided to quickly make some candied nuts for some snacks.
I should have used pecans, but I went the cheapo route and bought the slightly less expensive walnuts from Costco.
I used this recipe because all it calls for is sugar and salt. (I added some cinnamon and vanilla because I’m super gourmet).
I’ve followed another recipe before from the Joy of Cooking cookbook that I actually like better; it uses an egg white to bind everything together, but I didn’t think I have any eggs in the house. culinary fail.
{I looked in the fridge the next day and saw a brand new dozen eggs. eyesight fail.}
{Cheese, dip, nuts, fruit, hummus, and crackers plate. with a side of TV remote}
This is a great article on how to make a cheese platter and what cheeses to pair with what foods, etc. so many rules! I think I broke every one of them.
Here’s a few of them from the article:
“Arrange your cheese tray at least an hour or two before guests arrive, as all cheeses needs to sit at room temperature for full flavors to be enjoyed.”
- Provide one (1) knife for each selection so flavors don’t mingle.
- Serve all soft ripened cheeses in wedges
- Serve fresh soft cheeses like Brie, in the entire form and have a knife to cut and spread it onto crackers or bread
- Semi-soft cheeses should be served pre-cut in the size you desire.
- Semi-hard cheeses should be cut into wedges or cubes that expose the cheese to the air
- Hard cheeses should be pre-cut into pieces
- Bleu cheeses should be served in chunks created by your cheese knife
- Arrange cheeses with seasonal fruits cut into bit size pieces (this is also an opportunity to have a few nuts as part of your Fruit and Cheese Tray as well).
- Don’t forget your tongs, cheese knives, cheese forks, utensils and/or wooden picks and serving plates and.
“Don’t forget to have a great time!”
I knew I was forgetting something. I mean, how can I have a great time with her here…
With Monica, I don’t have a great time; I have a stupendously awesome time!
Made even more awesome with our cute little friend Katie.
Sometimes it’s nice to have girls only time where you can talk and laugh about everything. And if for nothing else, a sweet break from all the football on TV.
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Those are some of my favorite nights, staying in with “the girls.” Who knew so much went into setting out a cheese tray? I consider it a major victory if I get all the little papers in between the slices out!
LOVE girls nights! I had no idea there were so many rules about cheeses. Crazy.
I love doing cheese platters, they are pretty easy and always such a hit. Thanks for the “rules” I love that! I had no clue you should put them out an hour early…good to know!
I love girls night too, I have one coming up this Thursday with my best friend..can’t wait!
I had NO idea there were so many cheese related rules!!! Girls nights are a necessity in my book. I am in an all girls Bunko group that meets once a month and it is SO fun.
Girls nights are so fun!!
Where is your couch from? love the shape and color!
My favorite cheese platter thing is to put it on a chalkboard and to label the cheeses that way. Not a normal chalkboard, but they have these special cheese plate slate boards that are so cute!
Yes I’ve seen those. And you’re right, they’re adorable.
Girls nights are always fun…especially a low key one at home.
As long as nobody “cuts the cheese” we can all have a good time.. All rules out the window, except THAT one…;)
Well SR unfortunately REALLY threw that rule out the window. But it’s her house, so we can’t really complain? I mean, Monica and I did keep gasping for air and asking SR to open the windows.
oOOoh that cheese platter looks awesome!
And girl-talk time is essential and necessary for my sanity and happiness.
You “cook” like I do! Though apparently I have been depriving my guests of a spectacular cheese experience all this time. Looks like I’m going to have to buy more cheese knives.
Man, I had no idea there were rules for cheese!! haha
LOVE girls nights – it’s a must-do every so often!
Sometimes I think I can live on cheese plates alone. So good.
I love cheese plates. So much. My mom is Swiss, so I pretty much was born to be obsessed with good cheese
love a great girl’s night in!
How cheesy.
I’m still sad you guys didn’t want a bite of my sandwich. I don’t have germs.
haha who knew so much rules went into a cheese tray, urs looks better then mine i usually just have ritz and a block of cheddar cheese.. opps!
The only rule with cheese should be to eat as much of it as possible, unless you’re lactose intolerant.
Love girls night. Reading your post and the replies has inspired me to set one up for this month.
My goodness! I had no idea there were so many cheese rules!
Aren’t girls nights the best? I am having one this Friday with one of my bff’s! Can’t wait!
Well you learn something new every day, I never knew there were rules about cheese!
My aunt told me that a good cheese tray should include softened sweet cream butter formed into a ball rolled in kosher salt and cracked pepper. And it’s lovely!
I also always include apples, just because they are so good with many cheeses (although I like juicer, sweeter fruits like plums or grapes with blue cheese).
Girls’ nights and weekend getaways are th best!
Girls nights are necessary.
I rarely follow pairing rules. I love all cheese. Just gimme the cheese. No need to arrange on a fancy plate. I’ll eat it straight out the package. I am oh so classy.
LOVE a good girls night–necessary for our well-being right? I have been killing cheese lately, what the heck? Probably eating too fast to even think about pairing it with something proper! ha ha!