Meat Platter Food

SKELETON MEAT PLATTER

Steps:

• For the skeleton head: Cook the bacon in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until golden and crispy, 7 to 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, Cheddar, scallions, bacon, some salt and a few grinds of pepper and mix until fully incorporated.
• On a piece of parchment, mold the cheese mixture with your hands into the shape of a skull, then wrap the head in the prosciutto. Make 2 divots for the eyes and place the olive halves in the divots. Pinch the middle of the face together to make a nose and create an indent below the nose to make a mouth. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.
• For the skeleton body: Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium-high heat.
• Grill the pepper whole, rotating occasionally, until charred on all sides and slightly soft, about 10 minutes. Cut the pepper from stem end to bottom on one side to create one long piece of pepper. Grill the sausage coil in one piece, flipping halfway through, until opaque and completely cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.
• To assemble: Position the skeleton cheese head at the top of a board or platter. Place the red pepper directly underneath the head and fold it slightly to create a heart. Align the baby back rib racks around the heart, one on each side, with the bony parts facing up to resemble a rib cage. Position the sausage coil under the rib cage to resemble intestines.
• Fill the space around the intestines, heart and rib cage with the pulled pork, tucking it under as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Serve with sliced baguette and assorted crackers.

HOW TO MAKE A MEAT AND CHEESE TRAY

Steps:

• Fold or roll each deli meat and place on tray in stacks (see notes above). Space meat apart on a tray or if using a round platter or plate, place in a ring leaving an open space in the middle.
• Place 8 slices of each type of cheese in a stack and cut diagonally into triangles. Fan out each stack of cheese and place on on the tray.
• Garnish with green leaf lettuce and/or fruit in the empty spaces on the tray.
• Serve with dinner rolls or bread.

MEAT PLATTER

Steps:

• Arrange the salami on a large platter. Loosely drape the prosciutto in a separate pile. Put the black olives in a bowl, in the centre. Serve with thick slices of the warmed bread, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with cracked black pepper.

DELI MEAT AND CHEESE PLATTER

Steps:

• Arrange meat and cheese on large platter.
• Serve immediately. Or, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

MEAT AND CHEESE TRAY

Steps:

• Start with the bulkiest items first. If you are using pickled relishes on the Meat and Cheese Tray, this could be a small bowl of pickles or olives.
• Place the cheeses on the platter.
• Add the meats around the cheeses. If using sliced sausages, arrange them in a fish scale pattern opposite. For deli meats, roll each slice up tightly and stack them.
• Use the crackers to fill in any gaps.