Zen Balance artistic platter (Print Version)

Artfully arranged fresh veggies, goat cheese, nuts, and fruit create a harmonious, balanced platter for two.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 8 cucumber slices
02 - 8 baby carrots
03 - 8 radishes, halved

→ Cheese

04 - 2 oz goat cheese, shaped into small rounds

→ Crackers

05 - 8 gluten-free crackers

→ Nuts

06 - 1 oz roasted almonds

→ Fruit

07 - 8 seedless red grapes

→ Garnish

08 - Fresh herbs (e.g., chives, dill), for decoration

# How to Make It:

01 - Place a clean wooden or slate board, at least 24 inches long, on a flat surface.
02 - At one end of the board, create a neat pile using half of each ingredient: cucumber slices, gluten-free crackers, baby carrots, halved radishes, seedless grapes, goat cheese rounds, and roasted almonds.
03 - At the opposite end, mirror the arrangement identically with the remaining ingredients to form a symmetrical presentation.
04 - Decorate each pile with several sprigs of fresh herbs to enhance color and aroma.
05 - Keep the center section of the board clear to highlight the harmony between both ends.
06 - Present immediately, inviting guests to appreciate the balance and artistry before tasting.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It turns 15 minutes into an experience that feels like you've done something meaningful.
  • Every ingredient is a choice you can see, taste, and appreciate without distraction.
  • The symmetry is genuinely calming to look at, and secretly fun to create.
02 -
  • The empty space in the middle is not wasted room—it's the whole point, the silence that makes the arrangement speak.
  • Serve this immediately after arranging it, because perfection is fleeting and that's okay; the experience of seeing it is the real meal.
03 -
  • The secret is in the empty space—resist the urge to fill it, because that void is where the magic lives.
  • Cut everything just before arranging, so everything tastes the way it should—fresh, crisp, awake—rather than tired and oxidized.
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