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Small Family Gathering Using Local Artisan Products From The Litchfield Hills in Connecticut

There is nothing that warms my heart more than traveling through the surrounding areas in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut to gather freshly made products to bring home for an intimate gathering with friends and family.

I have always loved stepping into a bakery, even as a child to watch artisans craft beautiful breads and pastries. It always fascinated me. The fact that they make sweet intricate designed pastries with their own hands using the skills that they love just fills my soul, and they taste amazing too.

Many small business owners get up before dawn to start their day and don’t finish until at times late in the night. They are proud owners of these amazing small establishments and I am always more than happy to support them.

Traveling through the Litchfield Hills, I made two stops. I was after some complex cheese and fresh baguettes that I could add to my charcuterie board. I also hoped I could find an amazing dessert.

For cheese, I love stopping at Arethusa Farm Dairy in Bantam, Connecticut. There you will find amazing cheeses and some of the best ice cream and other dairy product in the area.

Arethusa Farm, originally named after a small pink orchid that grew in a swamp on the land, is a dairy farm in Litchefield, CT. The farm is where they produce product from their award winning Holstein, Jersey and Brown Swiss cattle. Also, on the farm you will find Arethusa Garden, where they grow produce and flowers on a 5 acre parcel on the farm. It supplies Arethusa al tavolo, their resturant in Bantam, CT, year-round product. I will say that Al Tavolo is one of my favorite resturants and their cocktails are amazing.

Today, I picked up two types of cheeses for my charcuterie:

  • EUROPA, is a Gouda-style cheese with toasted nuts and savory, broth flavor.

  • MT. TOM, has a bright, bold evergreen aroma. It has a nutty alpine-style cheese with a light tang to it. My personal favorite.

Now, onto my bread and pastries!

After their, I drove to my favorite French bakery, Ovens of France, in Woodbury, CT.

Ovens of France is Owned by Denis Niez and was voted Best Tasting Croissant in the area. The bakery is one of Connecticut's better French shops. They offer pastries, freshly baked breads and artisan jams and jellies. You will find coffee, as well as espresso and cappuccino. hot soups and quiches are also sold daily and they have a lovely array of French cheeses and salami.

Today, I picked up an olive bread and a baguette to go with my cheeses. For dessert I chose an almond biscotti and a delightful almond cherry tart.

These day’s more than ever, I am looking for ways to bring wholesomeness into my home. Having organically created food or design pieces that are soothing to me during these uncertain times is paramount to my overall healthy lifestyle. I want my home to feel tranquil and a place of solitude and refuge. Bringing family into my home filled with warmth and gratitude just makes sense.

One of the ways I do this is to create Simple little vignettes when entertaining small gathering. As I go through the holidays, I want to create a special atmostphere to celebrate with immediate family. It is a way to bring peace and wellbeing into the living space so that you can relax and de-stress.

I chose a very organic yet modern serve board to design my charcuterie board. It is both visually interesting and gives you a feeling of warmth and comfort.

Because most of the products on my charcuterie board are sourced locally, I wanted my serve board to have a look and feel that is authentic and natural to our area. This one is made from upcycled cherry wood found in Vermont and crafted by skilled artisans living in New England. I love that!

Easy Meat and Cheese Charcuterie Board
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β€œβ€œCheese, wine, and friends must be old to be good.”
”
— Proverb

On my charcuterie board

Items on my board

Four types of cheese, dried salami imported from France, 2 types of bread, crackers, nuts, chocolate covered almonds and biscotti.

Color is especially important when designing a charcuterie board. It creates an appetizing and visual interesting presentation.

Decorate your charcuterie board with seasonal items. Place them here and their throughout your presentation to promote interest. I decorated with a small pumpkin in the midde of the board and then followed up with a colorful rose that is the same in my little centerpiece.

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

Here is an aerial view of the charcuterie board. As you can see, I added a few more cheeses and a few decorative touches to highlight what season it is. Be sure to remember to add cheese knives and spoons to your board.

Gray belgian linen napkins and matching runner

In keeping with my wholesome organic modern design, I added gray organic Belgian linens, napkins, and a runner, to my table. They are some of the best linens I have seen on the market to date and they are a sustainable product. They are created by a manufacturer that only produces sustainable certified organic linens which I love! I can use them in either a formal or informal setting. They are beautiful enough to interchange as needed.

I wrote a blog all about linens and how to care for them if you would like to learn more. Click on this link to read Oh Those DAUNTING Linens.

Fall Floral Arrangement

I have added some blue delphiniums to my arrangement both to give it height and to add a touch of blue/gray in the design. I also added some sunflowers and roses to capture the colors of the season.

β€œflowers are the music of the ground... from Earth’s lips spoken without sound.”
— Edwin Curran

I also placed an assortment of these beautiful velvet Hot Skwash pumpkins in different colors to match my design. I used varying sizes and colors to match my linens and little floral arrangement. This gives the design cohesiveness and some added texture.

Small intimate gathering during social distancing

Dessert is a wonderful almond cherry tart and some biscotti from Ovens of France Bakery.

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Just as so many other families, my holiday gatherings are going to be more intimate and quieter. Creating little vignettes that have beautiful calming colors will help to warm your environment and bring wellness to your home.

As with everything I post on my blogs, please feel free to comment or if you have any questions, please email me through my contact page. I welcome it anytime!

Design with your heartℒ️

Happy entertaining my friends!

Mary

β€œMay your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows. ”
— Anonymous
Hosting a Fall Gathering
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