Cooking by Ingredient
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That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life: Creative Gatherings and Self-Care with the Cheese By Numbers Method
A how-to guide for crafting beautiful and delicious cheese boards for entertaining and self-care, from the creator of the Cheese by Numbers method and the Instagram phenomenon That Cheese Plate.
"[Marissa Mullen] takes the guesswork out of the coolest, most solid thing to bring to any party or potluck: the cheese platter."--Rachael Ray
With her gorgeous, showstopping cheese boards, Marissa Mullen takes cheese to a whole new level. Her simple, step-by-step Cheese by Numbers method breaks the cheese plate down into its basic components--cheese, meat, produce, crunch, dip, garnish--allowing you to create stunning spreads for any occasion.
This beautifully designed book goes beyond preparation techniques. According to Mullen, cheese plates can be an important form of artistic self-care, like flower arranging or meditative coloring books--but you can eat the results! That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life celebrates the ways in which cheese brings people together, and how crafting a cheese plate can be a calming, creativity-bolstering act.
With fifty exquisite, easy-to-make cheese plates for all dietary preferences, this book will teach you how to relax, enjoy, and indulge-- to find your cheesy bliss.
"[Marissa Mullen] takes the guesswork out of the coolest, most solid thing to bring to any party or potluck: the cheese platter."--Rachael Ray
With her gorgeous, showstopping cheese boards, Marissa Mullen takes cheese to a whole new level. Her simple, step-by-step Cheese by Numbers method breaks the cheese plate down into its basic components--cheese, meat, produce, crunch, dip, garnish--allowing you to create stunning spreads for any occasion.
This beautifully designed book goes beyond preparation techniques. According to Mullen, cheese plates can be an important form of artistic self-care, like flower arranging or meditative coloring books--but you can eat the results! That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life celebrates the ways in which cheese brings people together, and how crafting a cheese plate can be a calming, creativity-bolstering act.
With fifty exquisite, easy-to-make cheese plates for all dietary preferences, this book will teach you how to relax, enjoy, and indulge-- to find your cheesy bliss.
Readers Top Reviews
DittoStephanieBessre
I wish I had taken a picture of the cheese board I made for Easter brunch. EVERYONE thought I bought it. I was overwhelmed with all the boards on Instagram and Facebook. I’m a structured, perfectionist who cannot just throw things together and feel it looks right. This book was THE MOST AWESOME guide for all sorts of boards. SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS. SIMPLE SHOPPING LIST. I was so pleased with my creation. My daughter and daughter-in-law both loved my board so much I bought them each a book. Marissa’s short explanations of cheese, how to cut and different meats was basic just enough info to digest. EVERYONE should have this book. It’s my go-to for non stressful entertaining.
This book is beautiful and inspired creativity with food! The illustrations are just as gorgeous as the photos of the cheese boards. Flipping through the pages instantly relaxes you and makes you want to get started and make a cheese board of your own! I love the smaller size, intended to make it easy to tote the book to the grocery store or cheese shop.
Jordan Guirey
This book has helped me prepare charcuterie for gatherings and it makes me look like a professional. I have gotten so many compliments! I also sometimes order the book and buy a wine glass set or charcuterie set for a house warming gift. Everyone has loved it! This book is so easy to follow and has detailed photos that include which items to place on the plate first, it’s really helpful. You will not be disappointed
Jacqueline Mullineau
I've been a huge fan of Marissa Mullen and her instagram accounts, @thatcheeseplate and @cheesebynumbers fora while now. When I heard she was putting out a book I immediately placed an order. Never did I imagine that the book would be even better than her instagram accounts though! Filled with beautiful photos (all shot on her iphone!!), adorable illustrations and delicious recipes. It really doubles as a pretty coffee table book AND an easy to follow recipe book. Can't wait to make the recipes and I will definitely be ordering more copies - for sure my go-to gift this year!!!
Jane
I've followed the author on instagram for quite some time and have always loved how easy she makes it to recreate her cheeseboards. This book is fun, simple, and introduces interesting ingredients to be paired together for almost any get together!
Short Excerpt Teaser
Introduction
"That cheese plate will change your life."
Okay, okay, I can feel you rolling your eyes at me, thinking, "Well, that feels like a bit of an overstatement." And maybe it is. Or, maybe, there's some truth in this idea. Because here's what I believe: cheese plates are self-care.
These days, in our Instagram-laden world, self-care usually means applying a face mask, cutting out carbs, sipping green juice, or spending Friday night in a bathtub full of flower petals. It's usually tied to a feeling of restriction or a temporary fix. But let's be real: a sheet mask and green juice can only do so much. True self-care is something different, something deeper: we care for ourselves when we allow ourselves the time, energy, and space to practice or learn about-or indulge in-the things that we love most. These are the things that bring us joy and make us feel connected to our most authentic selves and to others. For me, that thing has always been cheese.
In college, my friends and I had frequent wine and cheese parties, attempting a stab at newfound adulthood. Our ancient Boston apartment lacked a living room, so the kitchen was the heart and soul of every gathering. Although we had limited funds, we found ways to come together over hunks of cheddar and some prepackaged meat. I discovered that crafting these cheese plates for my friends was a great way for me to get creative while trying new and interesting flavors. Similarly, photography was another artistic hobby of mine, and I began to learn more about the world of social media as I earned a degree in music business and communications. As food accounts became a growing trend on Instagram, I decided to start my own account to showcase my creations, and ThatCheesePlate was born. Over the years, this evolved into a monthly event called "the cheese party": I built elaborate cheese plates while everyone gathered in my tiny apartment, sharing stories and catching up. The cheese plate was always the most popular guest at the party.
Then I got my dream job in the music industry, which meant countless late nights and weekend travel. Limited free time was my norm. When I did have time off, making a cheese plate was my relaxing activity of choice. It was always so satisfying to see a design come together out of wedges of cheese, slices of salami, and the colorful produce I'd find at my local market. I learned that the simple act of slicing cheese could be meditative. I found sacred space in the kitchen of my humble Brooklyn apartment. Full of natural light, it became my sanctuary after a long workweek. I loved to spend Saturday afternoons decompressing while I arranged and photographed my cheese plate creations. There's something cathartic in creating an intricate and beautiful plate, which my friends and I in turn would completely devour.
As my plates became more elaborate, I realized how much time the building process could take. You need to prep the cheese, fold the salami, and deliberately cut the produce. Taking the time to follow these steps forced me to slow down, a welcome change from how I spent the weeks at my day job. Every time, I was instinctively following a step-by-step process, filling in elements by sections. I asked my friend Sara Gilanchi, a talented illustrator, to sketch one of my plates numbering the illustration with 1 as Cheese, 2 as Meat, 3 as Produce, 4 as Crunch, 5 as Dip, and 6 as Garnish. Thus, the Cheese By Numbers method was born.
This process was deceptively easy, yet sticking to it elevated my plates to a new level. I decided to launch a second account on Instagram called CheeseByNumbers to document this method in further detail. I'd photograph and post each step in the process, starting with the cheese arranged on the plate, followed by the Salami River (more on that later!), and so on. This process really resonated with people. Creating a cheese plate seems intimidating at first, but Cheese By Numbers makes the building process simple and accessible. This account started to shift into something bigger than I anticipated.
Over the next few months, I felt the increased momentum of what I had built. I balanced television appearances, press inquiries, and food events with my already-demanding job in the entertainment industry. Simultaneously I launched That Cheese Class, a "build your own cheese plate" workshop. The Cheese By Numbers method encouraged the class members to get creative and break outside their comfort zone. I really loved my job working in music, but I started to feel as if my heart really belonged to what had just been my side-hustle: cheese. Building plates and teaching workshops made me feel both creative an...
"That cheese plate will change your life."
Okay, okay, I can feel you rolling your eyes at me, thinking, "Well, that feels like a bit of an overstatement." And maybe it is. Or, maybe, there's some truth in this idea. Because here's what I believe: cheese plates are self-care.
These days, in our Instagram-laden world, self-care usually means applying a face mask, cutting out carbs, sipping green juice, or spending Friday night in a bathtub full of flower petals. It's usually tied to a feeling of restriction or a temporary fix. But let's be real: a sheet mask and green juice can only do so much. True self-care is something different, something deeper: we care for ourselves when we allow ourselves the time, energy, and space to practice or learn about-or indulge in-the things that we love most. These are the things that bring us joy and make us feel connected to our most authentic selves and to others. For me, that thing has always been cheese.
In college, my friends and I had frequent wine and cheese parties, attempting a stab at newfound adulthood. Our ancient Boston apartment lacked a living room, so the kitchen was the heart and soul of every gathering. Although we had limited funds, we found ways to come together over hunks of cheddar and some prepackaged meat. I discovered that crafting these cheese plates for my friends was a great way for me to get creative while trying new and interesting flavors. Similarly, photography was another artistic hobby of mine, and I began to learn more about the world of social media as I earned a degree in music business and communications. As food accounts became a growing trend on Instagram, I decided to start my own account to showcase my creations, and ThatCheesePlate was born. Over the years, this evolved into a monthly event called "the cheese party": I built elaborate cheese plates while everyone gathered in my tiny apartment, sharing stories and catching up. The cheese plate was always the most popular guest at the party.
Then I got my dream job in the music industry, which meant countless late nights and weekend travel. Limited free time was my norm. When I did have time off, making a cheese plate was my relaxing activity of choice. It was always so satisfying to see a design come together out of wedges of cheese, slices of salami, and the colorful produce I'd find at my local market. I learned that the simple act of slicing cheese could be meditative. I found sacred space in the kitchen of my humble Brooklyn apartment. Full of natural light, it became my sanctuary after a long workweek. I loved to spend Saturday afternoons decompressing while I arranged and photographed my cheese plate creations. There's something cathartic in creating an intricate and beautiful plate, which my friends and I in turn would completely devour.
As my plates became more elaborate, I realized how much time the building process could take. You need to prep the cheese, fold the salami, and deliberately cut the produce. Taking the time to follow these steps forced me to slow down, a welcome change from how I spent the weeks at my day job. Every time, I was instinctively following a step-by-step process, filling in elements by sections. I asked my friend Sara Gilanchi, a talented illustrator, to sketch one of my plates numbering the illustration with 1 as Cheese, 2 as Meat, 3 as Produce, 4 as Crunch, 5 as Dip, and 6 as Garnish. Thus, the Cheese By Numbers method was born.
This process was deceptively easy, yet sticking to it elevated my plates to a new level. I decided to launch a second account on Instagram called CheeseByNumbers to document this method in further detail. I'd photograph and post each step in the process, starting with the cheese arranged on the plate, followed by the Salami River (more on that later!), and so on. This process really resonated with people. Creating a cheese plate seems intimidating at first, but Cheese By Numbers makes the building process simple and accessible. This account started to shift into something bigger than I anticipated.
Over the next few months, I felt the increased momentum of what I had built. I balanced television appearances, press inquiries, and food events with my already-demanding job in the entertainment industry. Simultaneously I launched That Cheese Class, a "build your own cheese plate" workshop. The Cheese By Numbers method encouraged the class members to get creative and break outside their comfort zone. I really loved my job working in music, but I started to feel as if my heart really belonged to what had just been my side-hustle: cheese. Building plates and teaching workshops made me feel both creative an...
