Sharing a Great Charcuterie Picnic!
The word, “charcuterie”, never was ever heard in most of my lifetime. Not until the last few years have I understood the meaning or joy of a great tray filled or board covered with smoked or cured meats and complimentary fruits, vegetables, cheeses, crackers and herbs added to the mix. But, today, I’m taking you along for the most amazing charcuterie picnic!
A few years ago among the pages of this blog you may have seen the charcuterie wreath that I shared with you. A simple base of arugula with a few in season vegetables, herbs, nuts, crackers, meats, olives, fruits, and cheese made a beautiful and delicious addition to share with those whose feet were under my table.
Last year’s Jane Austen picnic at FeatherStone Farm was delightful. You can click here if you’d love to read about it. There was “Pride and Prejudice” playing on a big screen in the barn, the most lovely macaroons and flowers purchased, and tables set among the lawn and woods.
Across my FaceBook feed came this announcement from FeatherStone Farm…
In planning for THIS year’s Jane Austen picnic there, it hit me…
Charcuterie Picnic Boxes!
Perfect size and contents for the sweet great nieces, niece and another friend to enjoy! Six of us would be settling at one of those picnic tables scattered on the lawn, so wouldn’t individual charcuterie boxes be perfect?
Off to shopping for the meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies and crackers to fill those boxes! So easy to fill. Salami roses, bunches of grapes, strawberries, cheese cubes, blueberries, bing cherries and crackers topping lettuce leaves made beautiful boxes perfect for the picnic.
Simple freezer containers made the perfect size. Wrapped in a bit of ribbon they were adorable.
What to add for dessert? A bag of chocolate covered pretzels and M & M’s were the perfect solution and tied on beautifully to each charcuterie picnic box.
One of grandmother’s quilts was added for sitting on the lawn under a tree. A simple tablecloth and napkins were tucked into a picnic bag.
Charcuterie boxes were added to the cooler bag along with little bottles of water.
Although a teapot filled with beautiful flowers was brought for our table…
…the farm had already added this sweet bud vase that was perfect.
Charcuterie boxes made the perfect picnic choice.
Sundresses and a few with hats made the day feel even more special for that picnic. Dessert moved to the quilt under the trees to be out of the sunshine for a bit.
A stroll through the farm’s woods was a joy.
Tucked into the woods and trees by the path were sweet glimpses of fairy life which thrilled the littles. A few gnomes…
A few fairies…
There were sweet areas to sit for a photo along the pathway…
Aren’t they the cutest?
There were others enjoying their Jane Austen picnic in the woods…
And another favorite part of that Jane Austen picnic?
The animals. From the chickens to the pigs to the horses, they loved them all.
So, when will you plan your charcuterie box picnic?
It was just the perfect afternoon with these sweet girls. AND, those charcuterie boxes were enjoyed by all of us!
Here’s how we put them together…
Charcuterie Boxes
Equipment
- 6 freezer boxes
- 6 toothpicks
- 6 ribbons
- 6 plastic bags for dessert
Ingredients
- 6 leaves lettuce
- 36 cheese cubes
- 12 slices gouda cheese
- 24 salami slices
- 36 crackers
- 6 bunches grapes
- 18 strawberries
- 30 bing cherries
- 3 C blueberries
Instructions
- Add a lettuce leaf to the bottom of each container.
- Overlap 3 salami and fold over. Then simply roll into a rose and secure with a toothpick. Add to the box.
- Cut cheese into cubes.
- Add cheese cubes to boxes.
- Add in fruit, cheese slices, nuts, crackers and favorites to each box.
- For the dessert, add a bag filled with favorites…these had chocolate covered pretzels and M & M's.
- When finished, add dessert bag to the top, if desired, and secure with a ribbon to make it extra special.
- Tuck into a cooler bag and you are set to take for picnics, travel, lunches or an outside gathering. Enjoy!
Notes
Thank you, Feather Stone Farm for once again creating the BEST picnic setting!
Why don’t you recreate this idea with the littles in your life? OR for a few girlfriends who simply need a few quiet moments to reflect and have conversation for a little while. I promise the charcuterie boxes will make it memorable. Even if only packed to take with you traveling.
I’d LOVE to hear in the comments if you do this! It sure created memories with those who had their feet under the table with me.
Love to you all! Enjoy the day!
Things to make your charcuterie picnic a bit better..
Click on the affiliate photos to find what make your picnic a bit better…same prices for you to shop here…just helps provide a way to help cover costs to bring you more. Enjoy!
16 Comments
Cindy Walker
Great Idea! I hope to do this for my little neighbor. She’s four & wants a picnic in my gazebo. This will be perfect. I might add a flower-shape PB & J sandwich. Thank you!
Leslie J Watkins
What a great idea! The beauty of boxes with littles is the ability to customize them to suit likes. My new favorite way to picnic with them! You will let me know how the gazebo picnic is loved!
Martha+Wallace
Absolutely gorgeous. What a wonderful idea! I know they all had a wonderful time! I will have to come up with something like this for all the boys! Maybe a treasure hunt! Thanks for sharing this experience with us!
Leslie J Watkins
Thanks, Martha. This so suited those littles who love fruit. They were in heaven. A treasure hunt sounds perfect. Individual boxes made for the picnic was genius!
Vickie Ramey
I am positive that was a “memory maker” for those sweet girls! What a wonderful idea for traveling, too! Much easier than trying to pack sandwiches and chips!! Except for the crackers, these could be made ahead and brought out ready to go! Love this idea!
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you! Oh, we had such a great time. Those boxes are such a great picnic solution to add what they love and leave out things they don’t. So much easier to pack and take!
Anne from Simply2Moms
These charcuterie containers look delicious! What a fun way to spend an afternoon!
Leslie J Watkins
I know, right? Making them with things those littles love make picnics easier…and they loved the afternoon together.
Elizabeth@pineconesandacorns
Love these Leslie!
Leslie J Watkins
So many great uses to have these boxes! Enjoy!
Linda Johnston
Leslie, you always have the best ideas! Going to have our own party with the granddaughters too.
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Linda. I hope you all have a great time!
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Missy
I just watched “Pride and Prejudice” (1995 version for about the 50th time!) so you really caught me in a Jane Austen mood, I love, love, love this idea!
Tammy
This is such a wonderful idea.
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you, Tammy. It was a magical and memory creating day.