6 Amazing Plant-Based Recipes For Your Fall Meal Planning

1. Get a good board.

Throughout the years, I’ve learned that your charcuterie is only as good as the board you use to craft it. I’ve had moments where I tried to use a single dinner plate or even a plastic cutting board for my creations, and, well, they just didn’t cut it.

The perfect charcuterie board is durable, easy to transport, and easy to clean once all the snacks are gone. Of course, the size of your board matters, too, but that really all depends on the amount of people you plan to serve.

I was lucky enough to be gifted this wonderful foldable charcuterie board ($87) from Uncommon Goods (thanks, mom!), and it’s my go-to for small gatherings (more typical than large parties, per my lifestyle).

I also really enjoy it because it’s easy to travel with if I’m setting up a snack spread at someone else’s place. The foldability also makes it a breeze to stow away in my kitchen cupboards between uses.

My only (very minor) complaint about it is that the nooks and crannies between the folding mechanisms can be hard to fully clean.

If you plan to take your charcuterie skills to a larger get-together, I recommend looking for a long board, like these ones from Amazon ($65) or Crate & Barrel (above, $70).

2. Variety is key.

Now that the board’s out of the way, it’s time to get into the fun stuff – the food!

My personal preference when it comes to charcuterie boards is that they have a ton of variety. Not just variety in flavors, but color, texture, and layout.

Having a wide range of different snacks will please the palette and the eyes, which is the number one key in impressing those people that hover around the snack table, leaving them with a lasting memory about your amazing charcuterie work.

As a quick guide, I always strive to have at least one item from each of these categories on my charcuterie board: meats, cheeses, crackers, nuts, olives, fruits, and chocolates (because who doesn’t like chocolate?!).

Bonus points for fancy picks like veggies, dips, breads, honeys, baked bries, cookies, pastries, and dipping oils.

Now, all of that is just for a regular-schmegular charcuterie moment. When it comes to a Christmas charcuterie board, you may want to stick to seasonal foods (like Christmas cookies, cheese balls, and rosemary crackers) and flavors (like cranberry, gingerbread, and peppermint) to really nail the theme. Using red and green foods is also welcome!

It’s no secret that I love to shop at Trader Joe’s for all of my charcuterie needs. They carry a ton of items in each of the aforementioned categories, and the best part is their products typically favor the more-elevated culinary palette (not to sound pretentious AF!).

Plus, their aisles change according to the seasons, so you’re bound to find the perfect items for your Christmas charcuterie board in a single trip. I can’t recommend TJ’s more!

3. Get creative with presentation.

The presentation of your charcuterie is the part that people will remember the most, which is why I fully lean into my creativity to create an eye-catching snack spread.

My best advice is to simply be patient and don’t rush this step! It should be pure fun – sometimes it’s even more fun for me than actually eating the charcuterie!

You really can’t mess up the presentation, and if you do, everything is easily rearrangeable.

Meat roses – it sounds so silly, but making meat roses was the first thing that really leveled up my boards’ presentations. You can create them by layering slices of cured meats (like salami) around the rim of a glass. I watched a quick TikTok tutorial to learn how (thank you, internet!). This YouTube video also has some really helpful and clear tips!

I also enjoy employing methods like alternating and layering different cheeses, stylishly folding meats onto toothpicks, stuffing olives, creatively cutting berries, and more.

The next tip kind of goes hand-in-hand with my notes about using a good board, but it definitely plays into presentation: using small bowls to section out things like olives, baked bries (my fave), jellies, and dips. Tiny bowls like this set of 6 from Amazon ($23) not only look cute, but they help in separating charcuterie items that shouldn’t touch other things (AKA oily olives or piping-hot baked cheeses).

You’ll learn more and more about your charcuterie presentation preferences through practice. Plus, no two boards are the same, so you really have free reign on each one!

4. Scale your charcuterie appropriately for the occasion.

If you’re going to serve a big Christmas party, you’ll want to up the ante with the size of your charcuterie spread. As I noted with the size of your board, you’ll want to have enough snacks to fill the blank space on it.

The real key with this is just being prepared – make sure you get a solid head count ahead of your charcuterie shopping trip, and you’ll know exactly how much to buy!

If you’re only feeding a few mouths, it’s okay to keep it small! For reference, between two people, I only need to grab one of each item. For larger gatherings above 10 people, I might be extra cautious and grab 3 or 4 of each.

I’ve found that meats, cheeses, and crackers are typically what’s gone from my boards first, so I’d recommend focusing on having enough options there for your own creation.

Another important thing to take into consideration is if your guests have any special dietary needs like allergies. That way, you can know what to avoid (or set out separately from the main charcuterie board if you’re up to making a couple of options).

If you’ve committed to the charcuterie for a function at someone else’s house, make sure you arrive in advance with all the components packaged. Building the board beforehand opens up the possibility of it getting messed up during travel.

I’d tow along my board, a bag full of the snacks, and some necessary prep items like knives and bowls. Bringing your own paper plates to coordinate could also be helpful to the host!

Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese

“Their mac and cheeses are fire,” as one Redditor put it. One of the most frequently-mentioned macs was this Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese, which is crafted with a classic cheddar and, of course, authentic green chiles straight from Hatch Valley, New Mexico.

Roasted Garlic & Pesto Pizza with Deep Fried Crust

“Best I’ve had so far is the Roasted Garlic [&] Pesto Pizza," one person wrote. I have to agree that TJ's kills it in the frozen pizza department!

I really adore their Organic Roasted Vegetable Pizza and (not technically a pizza) their Burrata, Prosciutto & Arugula Flatbread.

This iteration includes all the cheese (mozzarella, provolone, Parmigiano Reggiano, and burrata), fresh pesto, and roasted garlic on a delish deep-fried crust – TJ's describes it as "perfectly crunchy and dreamily airy, chewy, and pillowy."

Chicken Gyoza Potstickers

"The potstickers are amazing and such a good price," one TJ's fan said. For just $3.99, you get one pound of these amazing bites. I've bought them over and over and over again and can verify that they're worth the hype!

Stuffed with chicken, cabbage, onion, soy sauce, sesame seed oil, and ginger powder, you can cook 'em any way you like, including steamed, microwaved, or pan-fried.

Vegetable Fried Rice

“Vegetable fried rice and any flavored chicken (teriyaki or mandarin is my go-to) then I fix up the fried rice with some extra diced garlic, fresh green onions if I have them," one Redditor offered for an easy meal idea. "It's sooooooo good! Also I bought a bottle of Panda Express mandarin chicken sauce and it really elevates the frozen chicken! Totally recommend.”

I have got to try this combo ASAP. I really like the Vegetable Fried Rice because it's easy to prepare and always has such an enjoyable texture – it's never dry.

Family Style Meat Lasagna

“It's really quite good. It's a real bargain at $7," one person said about the Family Style Meat Lasagna. "You could probably make a homemade lasagna four times as big for $28, but you couldn’t make one this size for $7 if your life depended on it. And did I mention it’s really good?”

Okay, I'm sold. I don't even have a family to feed, but I could see this family-style frozen meal being perfect for leftovers!

Quiche Lorraine

The Trader Joe's Quiche Lorraine was mentioned quite a bit between Redditors! It's made with a flaky pastry crust, 20% uncured ham, and Swiss cheese, all embedded in a soft egg custard that impressively retains its moisture when you heat the already-cooked frozen pastry back up.

I already love the Broccoli & Cheddar Cheese Quiche so much, so I'm definitely adding this pick to my list for my next TJ's run.

Vegetable Biryani

"[The] veg biryani is surprisingly cheap and tasty," one Redditor noted.

This $3 heat-and-eat Trader Joe's frozen meal has a "diverse blend" of flavors to help you shake up your mealtimes. You'll find some yummy rice, seasoned veggies, and delightfully tender vegetable dumplings to top it all off.

Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi

"I love the frozen gnocchi," one thoughtful user wrote. "My kitchen is teensy and I don’t have a dishwasher, so I hate cooking full meals. If I want to have a more “hearty” dinner, I just cook some chicken, chop it up, and throw it into the bowl with the gnocchi. It works great as a diverse base for meals."

Trader Joe's also offers frozen Cauliflower Gnocchi, which I particularly love to serve with grilled chicken and broccoli for an easy dinner.

Spicy Thai Shrimp Fried Rice

"Thai shrimp fried rice is my all time favorite," someone else wrote.

This fried rice makes the perfect complete meal in my opinion, since you get grains, veggies, and protein all in one easy-to-make bag. The Thai red chilis add some extra oomph to the flavor, too!

Frozen Steel Cut Oatmeal

"Frozen oatmeal!" another TJ's Redditor said. "My breakfast every single morning for years!"

This could make a super easy breakfast if you're n a pinch. Add some berries on top, and boom, you're ready to take on the day.

Vegetable Bird's Nests

"The vegetable nests… so good," another person wrote.

These $4 appetizer-worthy bites are essentially little bundles of julienned onions and carrots with chopped kale that have been fried in a tempura batter. Okay, crunch! You can easily make them in the oven, air fryer, or the pan.

Vegetable Pad Thai

"I stir fry it in a pan with some broccoli and add an egg at the end with some chili crisp," one home cook wrote. "So good."

And suddenly, I'm craving some noodles! These are seemingly super authentic, since TJ's says they're made by a supplier in Thailand. Each bite is "a little sweet and a little spicy."

Soup Dumplings

Soup dumplings FTW! Trader Joe's makes a few different flavors of them, but they're all tasty! Shoppers are still lovin' them, no matter the variety.

Soup dumplings are exactly what they sound like – warm, little pockets filled with some delicious broth and a hearty filling. What I like the most about 'em is how easy they are to heat up in the microwave for a very low-effort meal.

Butter Chicken & Basmati Rice

“The frozen Indian meals are so great," one user said. "They taste close to the real deal, plus I can fit them into my daily caloric goals so much easier than eating at my lovely local Indian place... dreamlike.”

What is the female boxer movie in 2024?

The Christy Martin movie hasn't received an official title yet, but we do know director David Michôd is known for films with shorter titles. Plus, after The Iron Claw, I'm wondering if the movie will take inspiration from some iconic boxing moves, like The Knockout.

In addition to Sydney Sweeney we'll see Ben Foster play Christy's husband James Martin, Merritt Weaver, Katy O’Brien, Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor, Chad L. Coleman and Tony Cavalero.

Why are they making a movie about Christy Martin?

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A post shared by Sydney Sweeney (@sydney_sweeney)

The new Christy Martin biopic is coming on the heels of A Complete Unknown (about Bob Dylan) and the forthcoming Bruce Springsteen's Deliver Me From Nowhere movie. The swell of biopics offers a whole new perspective on figures we only think we know, as well as inspiration by showing them overcome serious challenges.

“Well the cat’s out of the bag thanks to some paps in bushes so here’s a little BTS from my film I’m working on right now,” Sydney Sweeney said in an Instagram post. “Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman — a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring. Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. more to come soon :)."

“I grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old," Sydney also told Deadline. "I’ve been itching to get back into the ring, train, and transform my body. Christy’s story isn’t a light one, it’s physically and emotionally demanding, there’s a lot of weight to carry. But I love challenging myself.”

“I have a history of making movies about damaged men and I’d been wanting to make a film about a woman with a ferocious energy inside her," director David Michôd added. "When I came across the Christy Martin story two years ago I knew I’d found it. Her ferocity is intelligible and justifiable and audiences will crave it because of the circumstances she was forced to endure."

Was Christy Martin a good boxer?

Yes, Christy Martin was definitely a good boxer — she has 49 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws, with 31 wins by knockout (no big deal). And in 2020, she also joined the International Boxing Hall of Fame.