The post is sponsored by Castello Cheese.
Well, we made it through the weekend, didn’t we. I am so sad it’s over, and I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that you guys are also sad. It was pretty low-key around here. I have been battling the flu plus a head cold here this past week, and it has NOT been fun. I hate it when food has no taste, I can’t breathe, and I’m constantly freezing. This weekend was dedicated to getting better, and I have to say that I think it’s working!
So, I don’t know how many of you guys know this, but I am OBSESSED with awards season. I honestly don’t watch a movie all year until I watch the Oscars. I don’t binge on TV until I’ve watched the Emmys. I don’t buy an album until I watch the Grammys, and the Golden Globes kills it when it comes to the red carpet. You guys get the point right?
This is why I’m all about keeping with the theme when it comes to serving food during an awards show. Cheese boards and platters are my favorite way to entertain, especially during awards season, and I have posted a few cheese boards in my day with my cheese and beer pairing post being my favorite of them all.
For this cheese board, I wanted to keep with the theme, and the theme for awards season is most definitely “gold.” Gold is such a fun color to try to replicate with food. You can go with all kinds of different types of mustards, and you all know how I feel about mustard. I could eat it with a spoon, literally. Mustard also happens to be a great accompaniment to cheese!
In addition to adding mustards, grapes, and crackers to my Oscar night cheese board, I have to add something sweet into the mix. I am firm believer that there has to be something sweet on a cheese board, and sweet foods often compliment cheese. This brings me to the recipe portion of this post: the caramel corn!
You guys, I LOVE popcorn. It’s by far my favorite snack, and I’m definitely one of those people that eats it a couple of times a week. I also LOVE popcorn as the perfect snacking item while watching my favorite awards show. I thought that caramel corn would be the perfect accompaniment to the Castello cheeses adorning this cheese board. The Havarti cheese with the caramel corn was seriously a match made in heaven, and I’m literally STILL dreaming about it!
Ingredients for the perfect Oscar night cheese board:
Castello Havarti Cheese
Castello Blue Cheese
Honey Mustard
Rice Crackers
Fresh Greens
Red Grapes
Salted Pistachios
Caramel Corn
Assorted Olives
A bottle of Folie a Deux Chardonnay
While I tend to pair with beer on this here website (and a Pilsner would be perfect for this cheese board), I’m going with wine today. Pair this Oscar Night Cheese Board and caramel corn with a glass of Folie a Deux’s Unoaked Chardonnay. It’s the perfect pairing!
The most exciting part of today’s post however, is the sweepstakes! Enter to win a trip for two to Napa Valley, CA! Enter below and have a wonderful week friends! xo
Caramel Corn
Servings:
10 cupsNutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
- In a large dutch oven, add the oil. Heat over medium heat until melted. Add 3-5 kernels of popcorn. Cover and wait until all kernels have popped, 1-2 minutes. Remove the popcorn with a slotted spoon and throw away. Reduce the heat to medium low, and add the rest of the popcorn kernels. Sprinkle with salt. Cover and allow the popcorn to pop until there is a couple of seconds between each pop, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer the popcorn to a large roasting pan. Set aside.
- In a heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in the baking soda and continue to cook until the mixture is thick. Remove from heat and pour the caramel over the popcorn. Toss to coat evenly.
- Bake the popcorn for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until crispy. Toss the popcorn every 15 minutes while it bakes. Remove from heat and pour the popcorn onto a couple of baking sheets that have been lined with foil. Break up the popcorn once it's cool enough to handle.
- Once the caramel corn has cooled completely transfer it to airtight container where it will keep for a week or two.
- Enjoy!
10 Responses
So yum! I love how elegant yet easy to put together cheese plates are :)
Oh, I want everything!! That caramel corn looks amazing, I haven’t had that in far too long!
Such a beautiful looking cheese board! Love the addition of the caramel corn! :)
Beautiful presentation Justine! I too LOVE award season, and I love cheese just as much! It is great idea to add caramel corn to the mix; we may just be whipping some of that up for Oscar night!!
I love caramel corn! Like with a serious passion. This looks amazing!
Wine, cheese, and a big ole bowl of that caramel corn and I would be a happy girl! Such a great spread, Justine!
This is a perfect set up for an awards night! Love everything on that board! :D
That is one gorgeous smorgasbord!! We love to do these for movie nights too. Really wanna try that wine too. Yum!! Ps Happy weekend!!