Watermelon Salad

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The weather is finally getting warmer! It felt like the weather was never going to break, but we’re glad that it did. Now that warmer days are ahead of us, it’s time to start pulling out recipes that incorporate the season’s freshest and juiciest fruits. This recipe incorporates the very best that summer has to offer. I mean what could be fresher and more perfect for summer than cold cubes of watermelon, fragrant basil, sweet thick honey and juicy tart limes all over a schmear of sweet vanilla cream cheese (or mascarpone cheese if you’re feeling fancy)?

This “salad” is great to serve after enjoying one of our charcuterie boards because it’s refreshing and will lighten your palate. If you are having a gathering, your guests will most certainly love this and will be extremely impressed with your presentation skills.

To prepare this for your next gathering, simply plate this on a large, rectangular serving platter. If you are feeling extra fancy, chop up a handful of shelled pistachios and sprinkle on top just before you serve.

I hope that you consider making this recipe for your next gathering. If you do, we would love to hear about it/see it. Be sure to let us know.

Simple Watermelon Salad

Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1/2 tbsp vanilla paste
  • 3 tbsp powdered sugar All of this may not be used
  • 8 cubes watermelon
  • 5 leaves fresh basil
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • zest of 1/2 of a lime
  • 2 tbsp chopped pistachios option

Instructions
 

Vanilla Cream Cheese

  • In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, vanilla paste and powdered sugar. Mix together until ingredients are well combined and the cream cheese mixture is smooth with minimal lumps. *If you are concerned about the sweetness of this mixture, add the powdered sugar in one tbsp at a time until you reach your desired sweetness. *

Assembly

  • Create a crescent shaped schmear of cream cheese on your serving platter.
  • Add the watermelon cubes on top of the schmear
  • Drizzle the honey on top of the watermelon
  • Julienne cut the basil and sprinkle on top
  • Sprinkle lime zest on top
  • Garnish with chopped pistachios if you are using
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • If you are feeling fancy, mascarpone cheese can be substituted for the cream cheese.
  • The cream cheese will be easier to mix when it is at room temp. 
  • This recipe is easily scaled to accommodate a medium to large group. 

Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Veggies, Cucumber and Herbs

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The weather is finally turning and its beginning to warm up and we couldn’t be more excited. If you are anything like us, as soon as the temperature hits 70, we fling open our windows and start planning patio parties and family cookouts.

One of the beauties of spring parties is that the menu is usually made up of light and refreshing items that are quick and easy to prepare and involve little to no cooking; think finger sandwiches, pasta salads, veggie salads, fruits and cocktails. Besides a good charcuterie board, a tasty dip is one item that often served at our gatherings. Not only are dips a crowd favorite but they are easy to make and can be made several hours to a day in advance. This whipped feta dip is one of our favorites and was a major hit the last time we made it. It’s a little salty and creamy and it pairs exceptionally well with our large or extra-large board.

If you are hosting any type of intimate gathering this season, this is a good dip to serve. Oh, don’t forget to place an order for our large or extra-large charcuterie board to serve alongside this perfect dip.

As always, our mission whether through our charcuterie boards or these recipes, is to help you to be thoughtful hosts and plan memorable gatherings that spark joy and evoke feeling of comfort and togetherness.

If you make this recipe, be sure to let us know how it turned out. We would love to hear from you.

Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Veggies, Cucumber and Herbs

Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Dip
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups tri color cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup diced eggplant
  • 1/2 cup of diced cucumber
  • 3 cloves finely minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup good olive oil
  • 2 table of finely chopped rosemary and thyme
  • 1/2 tea each of
  • dried thyme
  • dried oregano
  • salt
  • pepper
  • onion powder
  • dried parsley
  • dried basil
  • dried dill

Instructions
 

Roasted Veggies

  • Pre-heat oven to 415 degrees
  • Toss rinsed and dried veggies in olive oil and dried herbs, salt, and pepper.
  • Roast veggies on a lined baking sheet or in a medium cast iron pan for 18 minutes.
  • While the veggies are roasting prepare the dip.
  • After 18 minutes, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
  • While the veggies are roasting prepare the dip.

Dip

  • Into a high-powered blender or a food processor, add the feta (crumble before adding), yogurt, red pepper, pepper, onion powder, and 1/4 cup of good olive oil.
  • Blend until you reach your desired consistency adding in more olive oil as needed. Add salt as needed.

Plating

  • Spoon dip into a large shallow bowl. Create a swirl design in the dip.
  • Spoon the roasted veggies along the edge of 3/4 of the bowl.
  • Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of the roasting oil onto the swirl in the dip.
  • Spoon the fresh diced cucumber on top of the roasted veggies.
  • Garnish the dip with finely chopped fresh rosemary and thyme.

Notes

Serve alongside our XL charcuterie board or with crackers and grilled naan bread.
In the warmer months substitute the roasted veggies for diced and marinated cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, grilled corn and asparagus tips.

Are you hosting a gathering and plan to serve this dip alongside one of our charcuterie boards? If so, start your order or email us and let us answer any questions you have.

Start Your Order
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The Fancy Superbowl Board

Tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday and while some will be grazing on bar snacks, pizza and chips and dip, I’ll be snacking on a board similar to this one. Don’t get me wrong, I love bar snacks and pizza but every once in a while, I crave something a bit fancier. When I do, this board or something similar is my go-to. I love this long board and how it can easily serve a table full of people. But more importantly, I love what is on this board. These meats and fruits and veggies will keep the crowd coming back for more.

Charcuterie Gift Guide 01 – Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day Gift Guide

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Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to shop and to spend money. It’s something about buying something new that is a complete rush. I love shopping for just about anything but shopping for kitchen wear, charcuterie boards, and serve wear holds a special place in my heart. I feel like you can never have too many glasses, charcuterie boards, or flatware sets.

Over the past month or so I have picked up a few things that I love, and think would make great gifts for Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day. I wanted to share a few of those things with you. I know that many of you are looking for thoughtful and unique gifts to give your friends and loved ones this upcoming Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day and I hope that this guide serves as a source of inspiration. As always, I intend to provide helpful solutions to make causal entertaining easy and effortless.

All of these items make wonderful gifts on their own but paired with one of our boards, the entire gift-giving experience will be taken to another level. Not only will the person receiving the gift feel special, but they will be blown away that you put so much thought into their gift.

I hope that you find this guide useful and helpful. If you do, leave a comment and let me know.

Oh, I forgot to mention, The Kitchen on Wellington is not receiving any compensation for recommending these items. We truly want to help you all give great gifts this Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day season.

Samantha

  1. Of course, we had to start with a set of cheese knives. These knives are so unique and make the perfect gift for that person who loves cheese and charcuterie. What makes this set even more special is that it is handmade and can be found in a local shop right here in RVA. Make this gift even more special by gifting one of our small boards along with this knife set.
  2. A wine or whisky decanter is a bar cart essential for anyone who prides themselves on keeping a stocked bar.
  3. Of course, a charcuterie board made the list! This board is stunning and more importantly, it’s made by teens here in RVA. Support them and give this as a gift.
  4. Our vegan board will excite anyone who receives this. Packed full of fresh fruits and veggies, plant-based meats, cheeses, and dips, this board is perfect for the vegan or health-conscious person in your life.
  5. Love, love, love the Half-Baked Harvest. Her food photography is amazing, but her recipes are even more amazing. Bundle these two books and give them to your fav. foodie or home cook.
  6. This candle is constantly burning in our home. It is warm and comforting and will forever be a favorite. Did we mention that it is affordable!?!?!
  7. Perfect for those upcoming spring gatherings, this pitcher with strainer is a must-have for your favorite hostess.
  8. This ceramic pitcher is so understated yet beautiful. Perfect for the minimalist or home decor addict.
  9. Another cheese knife set! We don’t think anyone can ever have too many.
  10. The perfect vessel to hold all of those soon to bloom spring flowers! Give this vase/pitcher along with a bouquet of roses as an extra thoughtful gift.
  11. Who doesn’t love something sweet? Our mini box is the perfect, “thinking of you” gift.
  12. This is the coolest pizza cutter ever! This makes such a unique gift.

Welcome….

Hey There,

Welcome to our blog! We wanted a place where all of our social media content could live (outside of social media) so we decided to create this blog. Social media sites come and go and can go down without warning. We would be absolutely heartbroken if we suddenly lost the ability to connect with you all and share our love for all things charcuterie. We figured that having one concise location were all of our content could live would be a smart idea. On this blog, you’ll find more charcuterie related content such as charcuterie gift guides, tips and tricks and extra photo content.

It is our goal that the content featured here will be both inspiring and helpful. Our ultimate goal, whether it is through our charcuterie offerings or through this blog, is to help make casual entertaining easy and effortless.

-The Kitchen on Wellington