Date Night In

Who else is feeling the wallet pinch on date night? Everything is getting so expensive so why not create a great date night in exploring new flavours, listening to a soundtrack on Spotify and sipping a glass of a great vintage or mocktail. Somtimes it feels great to get cozy inside on a cool winter night with a quick and easy charcuterie board, a good drink and someone to converse with.

I am telling you these are actually a lot easier than you think. And if you can ditch the technology all together, even lighting a few candles - magic will be in the air.

START WITH A  PLAN

Choose whether you want a sweet  and/or savory board or choose a wine exploring what it would ideally pair with. A nice Chardonnay would go well with cheese and cured crackers where a full bodied red would go nicely with a sweet board with chocolates. Not all reds and whites will pair the same so this truly makes for a fun date with tiny nibbles. 

BOARD BASICS

I love doing charcuterie on a nice wooden board or plank but you can literally make a charcuterie board using anything including a plate, slate tray, plastic plate or otherwise.  I have some lovely hand crafted boards I like to use but you can also find boards affordably at stores like Winners, Home Sense or TJ Max. Use what you have. 

PAIR IT WITH A NICE WINE

Either build the board around a bottle of wine or shop for a wine to suit your board. There are some great options out there and every wine will pair differently with the items on your tray. Have fun, get creative and take this opportunity to try maybe 2 bottles to see how they compare. 

Don't drink alcohol? Why not make a mocktail to suit. Here are some of my suggestions:

Cucumber Mint Spritz

• 3 slices of cucumber

• 2 mint leaves crushed

• 1 lime wedge

• Club Soda
  

Add mint and lime to a glass and muddle ( take a spoon and mash if you do not have a muddling tool). Add ice, cucumbers and top with soda water.

PREP IN ADVANCE

Set up your board ahead of time so you aren't spending time stressing about setting it up just how you like it. Wrap and stick in the fridge until you are ready to indulge. 

DATE NIGHT ROMANCE 

 Create a romantic ambience by choosing your fave date night music, light some candles, relax and share a romantic night in with your special someone. Time together is worth more than any gift. 

FOOD - A LOVE LANGUAGE

Here are my tips for creating your edible aspect of your date.

Mix fresh with dried - I stock up on dried fruit and nuts. I keep these always on hand for both kids snacks and grazing platters. Great options include:

• apricots

• raisins

• walnuts

• pistachios

• dried mangoes

• dates

• Fresh in season fruit

• 
  

Pick your feature - Whether it is your favorite artisanal cheese, or a select few specialty cured meats you love. Start with those. Placing your more expensive items on the board first ensures they get prime placement and the board gets built around it. 

Use colors - Pick green olives, or red berries, or a sliced green pear. Adding a punch of colour entices the eye. It also makes things like cheese stand out better. 

Just a few of things - Creates the desire to sample, pair your wine to see what it pairs best with as well. A small board will allow you to experiment or really enjoy the notes of the wine.

Relax and Enjoy - Don't overthink things. The only thing to remember is small dishes do help for wet items like jams, jellies or candied jalapenos. Get creative. Explore your cupboards and hit up your local Bulk barn store.