• 3–6 varieties of cheeses 3-6 ounces each (pick a diverse range – from soft to hard, from mild flavored to “stinky” and at least one blue-veined cheese. Add at least one goat or sheeps cheese. )
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup seasonal jam or blood orange marmalade ( recipe below)
• 1 cup toasted, spiced or candied nuts- walnuts, maple pecans, almonds, marcona almonds
• 1 cup olives or olive tapenade
• 1/4 cup whole grain mustard
• 3–4 varieties of fruit – apples, persimmons, pears, figs, Japanese Pears, pomegranate, etc.
• 1 cup dried fruit – figs, cherries, apricots, etc.
• 1 small baguette, sliced or sub gourmet crackers. Or both.
• ——–

Blood Orange Marmalade: ( takes 1 1/2 hour)

• Candy thermometer
• 3 blood oranges
• 1 small lemon
• 1 1/2 cup organic sugar
• Optional additions – 1 teaspoon minced ginger, star anise pods, fennel seeds,