This individually-plated cheese course is made by slicing four-inch rounds of cheese into eight wedges, and adding a visual counterpoint of a square-cut cheese and a sautéed mushroom stuffed with herbed goat cheese.

While a simple garnish would be fine—a sprinkling of nuts and fruits—the delight here is in the decoration. Work with an assortment of:

• Apple slices (a crinkle cutter makes the pale slices stand out)
• Blueberries
• Champagne grapes
• Citrus peel
• Currants
• Diced canteloupe and/or honeydew
• Dried currants and berries
• Edible flowers
• Green or red grape halves
• Nut halves
• Raisins and sultanas

Create charming cheese plates for special
dinners. Photo courtesy Wisconsin Milk
Marketing Board.

Find cheese recipes, our favorite cheeses and our Cheese Glossary in THE NIBBLE’s Gourmet Cheese Section.

Three Olives Tomato Vodka: Not just for
Bloody Marys!

Three Olives Vodka makes it even better with its Tomato Vodka. Serve shots of vodka along with the pasta—and of course, in a Bloody Mary before dinner!

PENNE ALLA VODKA DELUXE

Ingredients
• 1 pound penne (we prefer penne rigate [PEN-nay rih-GAH-tay], the ridged variety, since sauce clings better to ridged pasta)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 chopped tomato
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 to 1 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper, depending on your heat preference
• 1/2 cup Three Olives Tomato Vodka
• 1/4 cup canned tomato purée (look for San Marzano—the best canned tomatoes!)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley (flat leaf)
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• Salt to taste

2. Simmer olive oil in a large skillet over moderately low heat. Add tomato, onion and crushed pepper and simmer for about 3 minutes. Stir in vodka and bring to a lively simmer for about 5 minutes.

3. Add tomato purée and heavy cream and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes.

4. Stir in cheese until melted. Add parsley, salt and pepper. Cover and keep sauce warm over very low heat until pasta is ready.

Find more pasta recipes in our Gourmet Pasta Section.

But how about a chocolate cigar?

Woodhouse Chocolate (a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week) fills milk chocolate cigars with chocolate ganache—flavored with single malt Scotch! And yes, you can “smoke” it along with a glass of Scotch.

Find more of our Father’s Day chocolate gifts, including real chocolate sprinkles (jimmies) made by one of the world’s greatest chocolate producers, Guittard.

Chocolate cigars filled with Scotch-infused
ganache. Photo courtesy Woodhouse Chocolate.