Cheese and Sausage Tray - light supper

As we continue our heat wave here in Philadelphia, here is another don't-heat-up-the-kitchen idea, which is also great for an elegant picnic.

Choose a couple of types of cheese:

1 soft, semi-spreadable cheese (saint andre, brie, etc.) - serve in a chunk

garnish for soft cheese: fig spread, raspberry jam, strawberry jam, marmalade ...

1 hard nuttier cheese (parrano, asiago, swiss) - cut into smaller bits

1 medium cheese, if desired (dubliner, sharp cheddar) - cut into squares

sliced hard salami or summer sausage
garnish for salami: whole grain mustard (I was out this time)

Hearty crackers and/or sliced baguette

Pate is also a wonderful addition. Or smoked salmon and cream cheese.

My tray yesterday included Saint Andre Cheese, Ligonberry jam, mushroom liver pate, chianti salami, baguette, and parrano. I served with a fruit salad of cantelope and blueberries, and a separate salad of mixed greens, thousand island and thin slices of radish.

You can also make a larger version of this for a party - and it doesn't take much effort right before the guests arrive, which is more than can be said for most appetizers.