Figure serving 1/4 pound of cheese per guest.
When serving a formal meal by courses, cheese is introduced between the entree and the dessert. Less formal affairs serve cheese as appetizers, which are arranged neatly on decorative trays. According to the University of Georgia, cheese remnants have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, showing that this creamy, buttery food has a long history of popularity. If you have decided to offer a cheese tray to your guests, start with blocks of party favorites like cheddar, mozzarella or Havarti. Block cheeses have robust flavor and are fairly simple to cut for a tray.
Instructions
1. Remove the cheese from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. This allows the cheese to come to room temperature.
2. Put on plastic gloves. This will prevent forming fingerprints on the cheese as you cut the block. Remove any plastic wrapping from the block of cheese. Place the cheese on the cutting board. The short ends of the cheese should be on the left and right and the long sides should be on the top and bottom.
3. Cut the block vertically into four equal segments using the double-handled knife. Grip one handle in each hand and push the blade down over the cheese to make the cut.
4. Slice of the four segments in half lengthwise. Use a single handle knife to make 1 to 2-inch wide cubes. Arrange the cubes on a decorative tray. Pierce a few with toothpicks or leave the cubes as is.
5. Place the lid on the or cover it loosely with plastic until you are ready to serve it.
Tags: cheese tray, Place cheese