Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pepperoni or salami, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced into strips
  • 8 oz white cheddar, cubed
  • 8 oz manchego or monterey jack, cubed
  • 2 cups white corn crackers or water crackers
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 cup blackberries
  • 4 oz blue cheese crumbles

Instructions:

  1. Establish the Blue Canton by positioning a small square bowl or designating the top left corner of the board. Fill this area densely with blueberries and blackberries, nestling blue cheese crumbles between the berries until the area is a rich, textured blue. Note: This creates your anchor point.
  2. Create the first red stripe by laying a horizontal row of sliced salami and halved strawberries. Press them firmly against each other until you see a solid line of red.
  3. Create the first white stripe by placing a row of white cheddar cubes and corn crackers. Ensure the crackers are slightly overlapping until the row is opaque and white.
  4. Repeat the red stripe pattern using red pepper strips and more pepperoni. Note: Varying the red ingredients keeps the board from looking flat.
  5. Repeat the white stripe pattern using manchego cubes and cauliflower florets. Arrange them until the white row matches the width of the red row.
  6. Continue alternating red and white rows until you reach the bottom of the board. Use additional crackers to fill any gaps until no part of the board is visible.
  7. Fill remaining small holes with extra red pepper strips or blueberries to sharpen the lines.
  8. Wall in the edges of the board with larger cheese cubes. This acts as a barrier to prevent items from sliding during transport.