This Birthday Starbucks Hack Will Score You TWO Drinks

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 ($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 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.”

In an unexpected trailer for A Carpool Karaoke Christmas, Zane Lowe can be seen accepting a phone call from the one and only James Corden who has a huge favor to ask. The first passenger Lowe picks up is the "Bad Romance" songstress herself — followed by Chappelle Roan and Dua Lipa's own individual appearances.

The car's decked out in green wreaths and festive red bows which adds to the Christmas spirit as everyone sings along to famous holiday songs. Lady Gaga can also be heard singing "Christmas Tree" which has fans in the trailer's comment section besides themselves with glee!

According to Deadline, the special premiered on Apple TV+ December 15, so it's not too late to watch it if you're just as excited as we are. But that's not all!

The outlet also reported Lady Gaga and Lowe released a new version of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" on all streaming music platforms! This means you get to hear the pop star give the nostalgic song a punk rock vibe that's now stuck in our heads.

If Lady Gaga tells us not to pout or cry, we're going to listen! (And sing along while we're at it 😉)