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Crafting a Thanksgiving Day Charcuterie Board

Festive Charcuterie Board

** Crafting a Thanksgiving Day Charcuterie Board Worth Gobbling Up**

Thanksgiving is the time to give thanks, and what better way to express your gratitude than by creating a show-stopping charcuterie board that will leave your guests gobsmacked? Forget the traditional turkey platter for a moment and imagine the gasps of awe when your loved ones lay their eyes on your Thanksgiving Day Charcuterie Board. And the best part? You can showcase your culinary artistry on one of our exquisite live edge black walnut charcuterie boards from Nightshade Nook. So, let’s talk turkey (and a whole lot more) and uncover the secrets to crafting a Thanksgiving Day charcuterie board that’s a feast for the eyes and the taste buds.

** Ingredients for a Feast to Remember**

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of assembling your Thanksgiving Day charcuterie board, let’s stock up on the essential ingredients that will make your spread truly unforgettable:

**The Star of the Show: Live Edge Black Walnut Charcuterie Board** – To create a masterpiece, you need the perfect canvas, and our live edge black walnut charcuterie boards provide just that—a stunning backdrop that adds rustic elegance to your table.

**A Bounty of Cheeses** – Select a variety of cheeses to cater to different tastes. Opt for crowd-pleasers like brie, aged cheddar, creamy goat cheese, and blue cheese.

**Thanksgiving Deli Meats** – Roasted turkey breast and honey-glazed ham make for excellent choices, staying true to the Thanksgiving theme.

**Fall Fruits** – Embrace the flavors of the season with sliced apples, pears, grapes, and dried figs. They add a touch of freshness and color.

**Nuts and Seeds** – Roasted almonds, candied pecans, and pumpkin seeds provide a delightful crunch and fall-inspired flavor.

**Spreads and Dips** – Offer a selection of dips and spreads, such as cranberry sauce, fig jam, honey, and savory mustard.

**Crunchy Carbs** – A mix of crackers, breadsticks, and baguette slices ensures there’s a vessel for every topping.

**Herbs and Greens** – Fresh rosemary sprigs, sage leaves, and a handful of arugula add an herbal touch and a pop of greenery.

**Assembling Your Thanksgiving Charcuterie Feast**

Now that you’ve got your ingredients ready to roll, let’s tackle the play-by-play of assembling your Thanksgiving Day charcuterie board:

**The Charcuterie Stage:** Begin with your live edge black walnut charcuterie board from Nightshade Nook. Its natural beauty will set the stage for your culinary masterpiece.

**Cheese Combinations:** Place your cheese selections across the board, mixing textures and flavors. Create height variations with cheese wedges, slices, and cubes.

**Turkey and Ham Arrangement:** Layer slices of roasted turkey and honey-glazed ham in an alternating pattern for an inviting look.

**Fall Fruit Corners:** Add pockets of fresh fall fruits in different areas, providing a sweet contrast to the savory elements.

**Nutty and Seedy Textures:** Scatter roasted almonds, candied pecans, and pumpkin seeds throughout the board, ensuring a delightful crunch in every bite.

**Dip Stations:** Position small bowls of cranberry sauce, fig jam, honey, and mustard at various points on the board. These condiments add depth of flavor.

**Crunchy Carb Corners:** Fill gaps with an assortment of crackers, breadsticks, and baguette slices, offering diverse textures.

**Herbs and Greens Accent:** Finish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage, and scatter a handful of arugula leaves for a pop of color.

And there you have it—a Thanksgiving Day charcuterie board that’s a feast for the eyes and the palate.

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Ready to create your own Thanksgiving Day charcuterie board on one of our exquisite live edge black walnut charcuterie boards? Explore our collection and make this Thanksgiving feast truly unforgettable. Your guests will be giving thanks for the deliciousness!

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Crafting A Festive Charcuterie Board For The Holidays

Festive Charcuterie Board

The holiday season is upon us, and that means it’s time to break out the charcuterie board! But why settle for a standard spread when you can create a festive masterpiece that will leave your guests in awe? At Nightshade Nook, we’re all about elevating your holiday gatherings, and what better way to do that than with a charcuterie board on one of our exquisite live edge black walnut charcuterie boards? So, grab your favorite cheeses, cured meats, and a glass of wine, because we’re about to show you how to craft a charcuterie board that’s as visually stunning as it is delicious.

Festive Charcuterie Board

Ingredients for a Spectacular Charcuterie Spread

Festive Charcuterie Board

Before we dive into the creative process, let’s talk about the essential ingredients that will make your charcuterie board shine:

The Base: Live Edge Black Walnut Charcuterie Board – First things first, you need a beautiful canvas for your culinary masterpiece. Our live edge black walnut charcuterie boards provide the perfect backdrop with their natural beauty and rustic charm.

A Variety of Cheeses – Select a mix of cheeses, including soft, semi-soft, and hard varieties. Think brie, cheddar, gouda, and blue cheese. You want a balance of flavors and textures.

Cured Meats – Prosciutto, salami, and chorizo are classic choices. Arrange them in elegant folds or rolls for an artistic touch.

Fresh Fruits – Grapes, figs, and apple slices provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of cheese and meats.

Nuts – Roasted almonds, candied pecans, or Marcona almonds add a delightful crunch.

Jams and Spreads – Include a selection of fruit preserves, honey, and mustard for pairing with cheeses and meats.

Crackers and Bread – Offer an assortment of crackers, breadsticks, and baguette slices for that satisfying crunch.

Fresh Herbs – Sprigs of rosemary and thyme not only look gorgeous but also add a fragrant aroma to the board.

 

Assembling Your Holiday Charcuterie

Now that you have your ingredients ready, let’s discuss how to assemble a charcuterie board that will have your guests Instagramming it from every angle:

The Base: A Work of Art – Start with your live edge black walnut charcuterie board from Nightshade Nook. Its natural wood beauty will instantly set the stage for your culinary creation.

Cheese Central – Begin by placing your cheese selections on the board. Arrange them in different areas, varying the shapes and sizes for an eye-catching display.

Meats and More – Now, it’s time to add the cured meats. Create folds or rolls with prosciutto and arrange the other meats around the board, filling any gaps.

Fruit and Nut Accents – Fill in the gaps between cheeses and meats with fresh fruits like grapes and figs. Sprinkle your choice of nuts for a delightful crunch.

Jam and Spread It On – Spoon small amounts of jam and honey into tiny bowls and position them strategically around the board. Include mustard for an extra layer of flavor.

Crunch and Carbs – Add an assortment of crackers and bread, placing them near the cheeses and meats. Breadsticks and baguette slices can be artfully draped over the edge of the board.

Herbal Elegance – Finish by scattering sprigs of fresh herbs over the board for a pop of color and a wonderful aroma.

Hashtags: #CharcuterieArtistry #HolidayFeasting #GatherAndGraze #LiveEdgeCharm #NightshadeNook

 
Festive Charcuterie

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Ready to craft your own festive charcuterie board on one of our exquisite live edge black walnut charcuterie boards? Explore our collection and start planning your holiday spread today. Your guests will be impressed, and you'll have a beautiful board to use for many gatherings to come!
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Creating The Ultimate Game Day Charcuterie Board

Festive Charcuterie

When it’s game day, you know it’s time to bring out the big guns – and by big guns, we mean a stunning charcuterie board that will steal the show. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just in it for the snacks, a well-curated charcuterie board is the MVP of any football gathering. And what better way to showcase your game day spread than on one of our exquisite live edge black walnut charcuterie boards from Nightshade Nook? So, let’s huddle up and dive into the playbook for creating a snacky game day charcuterie board that will have your guests cheering for more.

Game Day Charcuterie

Ingredients for a Winning Game Day Spread

Vegetable Charcuterie

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of assembling your game day charcuterie board, let’s go over the must-have ingredients that will take your spread from “eh” to “touchdown!”

The Star Player: Live Edge Black Walnut Charcuterie Board – You’ll need a show-stopping backdrop for your game day feast. Our live edge black walnut charcuterie boards provide the perfect stage for your culinary game plan.

A Variety of Cheeses – Select a mix of cheeses that covers different textures and flavors. Think cheddar, pepper jack, brie, and blue cheese. These are your offensive line, providing a strong foundation for your board.

All-Star Meats – Cured meats like pepperoni, salami, and prosciutto are your game day MVPs. Roll or fold them strategically for maximum impact.

Team Veggie – Add a touch of freshness with sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and bell pepper strips. These veggies provide color and crunch.

Dips and Sauces – Include fan favorites like guacamole, salsa, and ranch dressing for dipping. These are your game-changing quarterbacks, adding flavor and excitement.

Crunchy Snacks – Don’t forget the crunch factor! Fill in gaps with pretzels, pita chips, and tortilla chips. These are your wide receivers, catching the attention of hungry fans.

Hot and Spicy – Spice things up with jalapeño poppers, spicy nuts, and hot wings. These are your fiery defenders, keeping the flavor game strong.

Sweets for Victory – Finish strong with sweet treats like brownie bites, chocolate-covered pretzels, and mini cupcakes. These are your game-ending touchdowns, leaving a sweet impression.

Assembling Your Game Day Charcuterie Playbook

Now that you’ve got your ingredients lined up, it’s time to create a game plan for assembling your snacky game day charcuterie board:

The Charcuterie Field: Start with your live edge black walnut charcuterie board from Nightshade Nook. It’s the playing field where all the action will happen.

Cheese Blitz: Place your cheese selections across the board, evenly distributed like a well-practiced offense. Mix up the shapes and sizes for visual appeal.

Meat Formation: Strategically position your cured meats, creating folds and rolls for added flair. These are your key players on the front line.

Veggie Touchdown: Add fresh veggies in pockets around the board, creating vibrant patches of color. They provide a fresh contrast to the meats and cheeses.

Dip Plays: Arrange small bowls or ramekins of dips and sauces in open spaces on the board. These are your game-changing plays for added flavor.

Crunch Defense: Fill in any gaps with your crunchy snacks, creating a satisfying texture contrast. They keep the board interesting and add an extra layer of excitement.

Spice It Up: Position the hot and spicy elements strategically, ensuring they’re evenly distributed for that fiery kick.

Sweet Victory: Finish strong with your sweet treats, placing them in clusters or rows. They’re your game-ending touchdowns that leave a lasting impression.

Hashtags: #GameDayGrub #CharcuterieChamps #SnackAttack #FootballFeasting #NightshadeNook

Game Day Dipping Sauces

Check out our live edge Charcuterie boards

Ready to create your own winning game day charcuterie board on one of our exquisite live edge black walnut charcuterie boards? Explore our collection and make your game day gatherings unforgettable. Your guests will be blown away by the delicious plays!
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Crafting A Chocolate Charcuterie Board For the Holidays

Ah, the holidays – a time for merriment, indulgence, and of course, the joy of sharing delicious treats with loved ones. While charcuterie boards have long been a staple for savory delights, it’s time to think outside the cheese and cured meats box. This holiday season, let’s elevate your festive gatherings with a Chocolate Charcuterie Board that’s as stunning as it is scrumptious. As experts in crafting exquisite live edge black walnut charcuterie boards at Nightshade Nook, we’re here to guide you through creating a cocoa-infused masterpiece that will leave your guests in awe.

 

Ingredients for Chocolate Charcuterie Delight

Before we dive into the creative process, let’s gather the essential ingredients that will make your chocolate charcuterie board a showstopper:

Chocolate Variety: To keep things interesting, choose an array of chocolates, including dark, milk, and white chocolate. Opt for bars, chunks, and even truffles for diverse textures and flavors.

Fruits: Fresh and dried fruits like strawberries, raspberries, cherries, figs, and apricots provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of chocolate.

Nuts: Roasted almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and pecans add a delightful crunch to your board.

Sweet Treats: Incorporate holiday-themed candies like peppermint bark, chocolate-covered pretzels, and caramel-filled chocolates.

Spreads and Dips: Include chocolate spreads, caramel, and peanut butter for dipping.

Garnishes: Edible flowers, sea salt, and grated citrus zest can add an elegant touch.

chocolate Charcuterie Board

Start Designing Your Chocolate Charcuterie

Now that you have your ingredients, let’s talk about the art of arranging them on your live edge black walnut charcuterie board:

Start with the Chocolate: Begin by strategically placing your chocolate varieties around the board. You can create a centerpiece with a large chocolate bar or a pile of truffles. Then, distribute smaller pieces throughout the board.

Embrace Variety: Create balance and visual interest by alternating between dark, milk, and white chocolate. Mix shapes and sizes for an organic feel.

Add Fruits: Surround your chocolate with a selection of fruits. Fresh berries can be artistically scattered, while larger fruits like figs can be sliced or halved.

Nutty Crunch: Scatter your roasted nuts around the board, ensuring they complement the chocolate clusters and fruit.

Sweet Surprises: Place your holiday candies and treats in small piles or clusters, filling any gaps.

 Dip It Up: Arrange your spreads and dips in small bowls or ramekins and position them strategically for easy access.

 Garnish with Flair: Elevate your board’s appearance by sprinkling edible flowers, a pinch of sea salt, or grated citrus zest on the chocolate and fruits.

 #ChocolateCharcuterie #HolidayTreats #SweetIndulgence #FestiveFeasting #CharcuterieBoard

 
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Elegant Organic Purple Charcuterie

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Ready to create your Chocolate Charcuterie Board on a beautiful live edge black walnut charcuterie board from Nightshade Nook? Explore our collection of handcrafted boards and start crafting your holiday masterpiece today. Your guests will thank you for the sweet indulgence!
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Holiday Decorating

Holiday decorating

Christmas Decorating Ideas

I can’t believe it is almost Christmas time already- Where does the time go?  It is time to start thinking about what to do to make our homes look festive and cheery.

One of the best parts of Christmas is the cheery, festive spirit that floats around your home.  Everyone seems to be in joyful spirits when visiting. 

I like to start my decorating with the living room. Adding in a festive cushion here or there is an easy and instant way to bring Christmas cheer to your home. Christmas and winter means the home needs to be a cozy and warm place to relax. Meaning, the coziest room in your house should also be shown some Christmas spirit.

Cozy Christmas

 

 

The bedroom is often an afterthought when it comes to decorating, but adding a touch here and there can help to brighten the whole house. An easy way to do this is to get some festive bedding or throw pillows to your bed. You could also replace some of your ordinary picture with some winter scenes. Or add a few holiday-scented candles to give off some subtle lighting and fill the air with the scent of the holidays. 

Understandably, one of the most favored Christmas decorations is the wreath.  The color of our Holiday Wreaths often brings a smile to my face. Whether it’s a more traditional wreath full of evergreen branches or a deco mesh wreath filled with Whimsy. 

Ice Skate Wreath 

Wreaths are usually placed on the front door of a home and are an excellent way to display your festivity as well as looking stylish. Since the front door is the first thing that friends, family or even carolers will encounter. But wreaths are an excellent way to enhance your indoor areas as well. You can hang them on your windows, in front of mirrors, and use them as centerpieces. The possibilities are endless.  I always hang on in our kitchen above our kitchen sink, it is the first thing you see when you walk into the kitchen and it makes it cozier. 

Wood stocking Hanger

 

The next simple Holiday decoration are the stockings. Get ready for Santa’s imminent arrival by hanging traditional stockings above the fire! If you are like us and do not have a fireplace or mantle, the next best thing is using on of our stocking hangers. These are a great wall decoration and you can place them high enough so tiny hands and/or paws can’t reach them. 

 

Whether you buy or DIY, Christmas stockings are sure to make you smile. The best thing about stockings is that they’re a timeless decoration so you can use them year after year.

Traditional Christmas décor is timeless and will always be popular! So it is always on trend! 

I love seeing traditional colors mixed with  lots of winter white décor with a few pops of red and green for Christmas! Frosted décor and flocked greens are all part of this natural Holiday look. More focus on celebrating winter than just Christmas,. With these types of décor, you can leave your house decorated without the guilt of not having put all your decorations away. That is exactly what I love about our Winter Décor Sleds.   

They are the perfect addition to your holiday décor, you can place them on the porch, hang them on a wall or just let them lean against your wall or fireplace. They give that extra touch to your home.

Gnome sled

 

Decorating a house for Christmas might seem like a chore rather than something fun.  With the right decorations and a bit of festive cheer, it can be easy to fill a house with Holiday vibes without spending an enormous amount of time and effort in the process!

Happy Decorating!

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Halloween Decorating

I can’t believe Halloween is just days away. I meant to write and post this sooner. I have been caught up in the season. If you are anything like me, you get excited at the mere mention of Halloween or Fall. I absolutely adore Fall and Halloween, it is definitely my favorite time of the year. I love sweaters, boots, spooky décor- all of it.

Which means, I love making our décor wreaths and signs. I start in early July and spend months creating designs on our router software and carving out our Halloween décor signs.  As most of you know, we don’t participate in a lot of festivals during the year, but you will catch us at  the local fall and Halloween festivals. 

There is just something about the season, that brings out the little witch in all of us. That is precisely what inspires me when making our Halloween Décor Signs. 

Halloween decor

 

Another favorite of mine is making the Halloween wreaths. Yes, I could make the standard, black and orange wreaths like everyone else. But I feel that Halloween is so much more than black and orange, I love to incorporate all the colors into our Halloween Décor wreaths. 

Blue Grapevine skull wreath

 

I love the contrast of the spooky elements of Halloween , the beautiful fall leaves and the colors and the pop of the pastels. As you know, we do not duplicate anything we make. That is one of my favorite things about our décor items, I may make something similar, but I will never make the exact same thing. I don’t think I could if I tried. lol

If you are looking for some unique decorating ideas, take a look at our décor signs and our spooky Halloween wreaths.

Happy Haunting!

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 What is live edge wood furniture?

You might wonder what live edge wood is, let us break it down for you.

Live edge wood furniture refers to the inclusion of the unique natural edge of a tree in the lumber being used for a product.  Typically this is the sapwood with the bark removed. In standard lumber this edge is milled off, live edge wood, however, maintains the natural form of the the tree.

Live edge wood furniture is meant to display the natural edge of wood without the manufactured edge that you would find in most furniture or box stores. More often than not most of the furniture you find in stores today are MDF, plywood, or even plastic made to look like wood.

Check out some of our videos where we are creating some new products.

The biggest thing that sets us apart from other stores is that our products are 100% natural wood. We buy our wood locally and in slab form, dry, cut, and plane the wood and then create beautiful pieces for your home. Plus no two products we create are the same. As each piece of wood has unique characteristics so do our products, even down to our smallest coaster set. Each coaster while made from the same piece of wood is entirely unique.

Interested in seeing what we make? Check out our gallery and our shop

We keep our designs as unique as our customers, no one will have an exact duplicate product you have purchased from us. Even our colorants for the epoxy rivers vary from piece to piece. The color itself or the way the epoxy has been swirled varies from piece to piece.

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What is the difference between live edge wood and manufactured wood?

Live Edge Wood Bar top

We actually get asked this question often.

Here is a brief breakdown of the difference between live edge wood and manufactured wood. The wood that we use is solid live edge wood. We purchase our live edge wood slabs directly from a wood mill that is local to us.  I am not necessarily going to name names, but Flower City Milling is one of our main lumber providers.

Most furniture stores or big box stores sell  manufactured wood or more commonly called MDF. MDF is basically made through the process of heating, gluing, and compressing wood chips and sawdust together to create a wood-like composite.  Most people know this, and some don’t care because MDF furniture is cheaper, more affordable. The problem with that is, it also doesn’t last long and you often end up chucking it to the curb and buying new pieces.

What they don’t tell you at the furniture store is:

  • Manufactured wood contains formaldehyde; a known carcinogen.
  • Manufactured wood cannot be recycled. Because of this, unwanted MDF gets sent to the landfill.

Okay so enough about MDF.

Lets tell you what is so great about live edge wood

Live edge wood comes directly from a tree, from nature. It is the natural form of wood. It is not processed or treated with harmful chemicals. Also, it is the only wood we use, it is important to our business and our values to only use natural live edge wood for all of our products. The live edge slab we use come right from nature, why would we change that? Why wouldn’t we want to enhance nature’s natural beauty and create something wonderful for your home?

Now the big question, is live edge wood more expensive than MDF? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is, live edge wood can be more expensive to purchase initially, but after you have gone through 2 or 3 coffee tables made from mdf, live edge wood doesn’t look so expensive anymore. In the long run live edge wood will outlive mdf furniture time and time again. Live edge wood furniture can certainly have a higher price tag than mdf furniture. But at the end of a few years, you won’t be kicking our furniture to the curb because it is chipped or broken.

We hope this answers some of your questions, maybe in our next post we can talk about care of live edge wood products

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Why buy live edge furniture?

Live edge river table

During Covid a lot of us sat in our house staring at our furniture just wishing we could freshen it up. Live Edge Slabs are the perfect way to liven up your home!

From the kitchen to the living room to the dining room, Live edge wood tables and river tables add a unique touch of character to your home. These rustic,  slabs add a unique, element that other furniture just can’t match.  The beauty of live edge furniture is the uniqueness each slab of wood has, no two slabs are the same, so there are no cookie cutter tables, each piece has its own quirks. You can find a slab with smooth grain or a slab with  lots of texture and cracks and knots waiting to be filled with epoxy. The possibilities are endless.

We create and design custom live edge furniture for your home. All of Nightshade Nook’s live edge wood cutting boards, table tops, and furniture are made from hand-selected wood slabs. The live edge wood slabs are chosen for the slab’s size, unique grain, and patterns. The wood is then dried to remove any excess moisture to prevent any future cracking or warping.

The best part of live edge wood furniture is it requires very little maintenance to remain water and stain proof. Dust with microfiber towels. Use natural cleaning products for a natural wood piece. Polish live edge wood with a conditioning cream.

Contact us today to discuss new possibilities for you home.