I know you guys are here for the grocery list. So, if you don't want to read me rant for too long, then keep scrolling for the TJ's grocery list to make this gorgeous cheese board.

However, if you're here for the story and the inspiration behind this little cheese board, then here we go.

Back in November 2018, I was visiting my fabulous brother in Los Angeles over the Thanksgiving Holiday. We planned a trip to Palm Springs and Joshua tree for the first half of the trip. Then we stayed in downtown LA for four days in his gorgeous loft making great food, seeing his neighborhood, and meeting his friends.

On one of those sunny LA days (in the middle of November), we went to his friends' house, Charlie and Kara. I already knew Charlie, and I loved visiting his plant and sunshine-filled apartment, but this would be the first time I met Kara. I already had Kara's cookbook, Toast, and heard she was an incredible hostess. But was I in for a surprise.

My family and I walked into Charlie and Kara's gorgeous LA apartment that smelled of homemade mulled wine, baked bread, and gooey cheese. AKA Heaven. Kara greeting us with the warmest smile and offered us a drink. After some banter and chit-chat, we sat down at the table, and that's where the magic happened.

Kara had created this beautiful spread of toast for us to gather around and nibble. I know, you're probably thinking, "Toast? What's the big deal?". Yes, gorgeous, delicious, beautifully presented toast.

To see some of Kara's creations so you can get a better visual of this spread, here's her Instagram and link to her book.

She explained to us that all the ingredients were from Trader Joe's and she just "threw it all together"! Lolol. Threw it all together. But she really did, she just got creative, put together savory and sweet, blues contrasted with greens, and sprinkled some Everything but the Bagel seasoning on top. She made it look so easy.

From then on out, I was intrigued by Kara’s ability to effortlessly throw together a delicious spread (all from Trader Joe’s ingredients). So, I started following Kara on Instagram (because not only is she a fantastic chef, she's also super kind and lovely). And that is where I got the inspiration to make this gorgeous cheese board. Although I would love to take credit for this little masterpiece, I really can't. After drooling over Kara’s creations for the past year, I took the plunge to make my own.

So, next time you're hosting a girl's night, dinner, or event at your place and you're looking for a delicious cheese plate and a one-stop-shop (Trader Joe's) to do your grocery shopping, look no further. It also impresses everyone and makes you feel like you’re a little chef in the making! Plus, it’s fun to just throw crushed nuts on the board, add color where you think is fitting, and get creative.

Thanks for reading along and thank you, Kara, for always being a creative inspiration to me!

Trader Joe’s Grocery List for Cheese Board

Gluten:

• Fresh Croissants

• Rosemary & Fig Crackers

• Fresh Loaf of Ciabatta

Fruit:

• 1 container of Grapes

• Pint of Strawberries

• 2 Kiwis

• Pint Blueberries

• Grapefruit (1)

Vegetables:

• 1 large Cucumber

• Pint of Cherry Tomatoes

Herbs:

• Fresh Basil (homemade Caprese salad, optional)

• Fresh Rosemary (for garnishing)

Dips:

• Mediterranean Hummus

Dry section/Canned Goods:

• Green Olives

• Roasted Salted Almonds

Cheese:

• Manchego Anejo

• Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar Cheese

• Trader joe’s le délice de bourgogne

• And any other cheeses, maybe a brie?

Meats:

• Prosciutto

• Turkey Sausage

• Peppered Salami

Directions: there really are no exact directions on making this board. For me, I usually find a photo and keep it on my Ipad while I’m creating the board. I like to have contrast, so usually I place the rosemary near the strawberries, cheeses next to blueberries, and so on. Just get creative! Once you’ve placed everything on the board, sprinkle your nuts on top and throw some more blueberries in!

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