As the weather cools off, folks want to be outside more and even dine al fresco.
The ever-popular charcuterie board is great for picnics, dinner on the deck or a patio happy hour.
Its surprisingly easy to assemble your own board withgrocery store ingredients that cost lessthan you might think.
More from The Penny Hoarder:Smarten Up, Americans.
If you should probably wrangle your budget, it may be time to consider a savings challenge.
Think of it as a glorified snack tray and choose what appeals to you.
Aldi Charcuterie Shopping List
This much food will easily serve 10 people, with extra for replenishing the board.
Prosciutto disappears from the board first and its the most expensive, but get it when your budget allows.
Pepperoni and salami generally yield more pieces per dollar.
People will eat it regardless.
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You cant go wrong with mozzarella, goat cheese or a white cheddar.
But if those are your jam, add em along with a drizzle of honey.
To get the most fromage for your buck, buy cheese by the block rather than sliced.
you could also use the block with a grater and further save on the cost of pre-packaged shredded varieties.
(Prepackaged grated cheese also has more preservatives and additives to keep the shreds from sticking together.)
Dont fret too much over getting the best cheeses.
Buy what you like and do a taste test if it’s possible for you to!
or grab whats on sale.
The side foods are what make your plentiful charcuterie platter much more than a humble cheese tray.
Complement sweet with savory to delight all palates.
Add mixed nuts, jellies, mustard, pickles and olives to the array.
Fruit is a must.
Strawberries, depending on the season, are plentiful and well priced.
The berries are at their peak in June and even July in the north.
Kiwi is also very colorful and easy to serve in slices.
Dont forget fresh bread and/or crackers gluten free crackers are a nice touch for your guests.
Here are a few more items to keep on hand for your charcuterie boards.
So do the serving utensils and the board on which you serve your delicious spread.
you could also find a large cutting board or an old-school turning Lazy Susan the same way.
Prep time is minimal, and there are really no rules.
But here are some helpful tips for preparing a delicious board.
So we looked into it.
What we found aresimple, millionaire-approved tipsthat anyone can use to manage their money.
Contributor Katherine Snow Smith covers ways to make money, save money and other topics.
Her work has appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, Charlotte Business Journal and Greenville (S.C.) News.
She is the author of Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker: Missteps & Lessons Learned.
Freelancer Adam Palasciano contributed to this post.
