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A Well Crafted Party

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Cheese boards are having a big moment right now and I’m here for it. I love a good cheese board, charcuterie platter, or grazing table. This grilled peaches and brie summer cheese board is not only a showstopping party dish, but also so easy to put together that it works for a nice weeknight meal!

This post is not sponsored by any of the companies or products mentioned below. There are affiliate links within this post. Purchases made from affiliate links help support this blog without any additional cost to the buyer. Thank you for supporting this blog as it allows me the opportunity to create new content!

I am a part of a Facebook group in which group members are always sharing photos of everything from super simple cheese boards to extravagant platters. I think that this type of dining works so well these days because people are all on different diets and because they can be put together without a ton of cooking skills.

This cheese board was inspired by an email or pamphlet I received from Fred Meyer’s with a recipe for Cedar Plank Grilled Peaches and Brie. I have linked the recipe here and you are welcome to follow it as it is very close to what mine ended up being, but I did make a couple of small changes that I feel like made a nice difference.

I wanted to make a the grilled brie and peaches to go with a few small items to create a nice charcuterie board or cheese board. However, as I was serving it as dinner, I also served a vegetable platter which is why you are seeing the artichokes on the grill in pictures. (I’ll share the vegetable platter in another post.)

Cedar Plank Grilled Brie and Peaches

This is the most labor intensive part of this whole platter and it takes around 20 minutes aside from prepping your cedar plank. Cedar planks are going to be important for two reasons: 1) to impart a nice smokey flavor to your dish and 2) to prevent the peaches or brie from just melting right into the grill. You’ll want to make sure your cedar plank gets a good soak in water so that it doesn’t just burn on the grill.

Grilling brie and peaches on a cedar plank prevents leaking.

Cedar Plank Grilled Brie and Peaches Supplies/Ingredients:

  • 1 Cedar Plank *(Affiliate link) soaked in water for approximately 2 hours
  • 1 wheel of brie
  • 2-3 ripe peaches (not too ripe as they will just get mushy)
  • 1/4 cup honey + extra for drizzling after
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh thyme- approximately 1/4 teaspoon
  • Salt & Pepper to taste (I used sea salt flakes and fresh ground pepper)
  • Grill (an alternative is using your oven and broiler but again, it is essential that your cedar plank has been properly soaked)

Cedar Plank Grilled Brie and Peaches Supplies/Ingredients:

  1. Soak your cedar plank in water. I put mine on a baking dish and cover in water for two hours.
  2. Heat grill (or oven) to approximately 350 degrees F or medium heat.
  3. Slice peaches, discarding pit.
  4. Mix together olive oil, thyme, and honey in a bowl.
  5. Toss your peaches in the olive oil and honey mixture. Remove from bowl and set aside.
  6. Brush your brie with the remaining olive oil and honey mixture.
  7. Place the brie and peaches on the cedar plank and place on grill. If there isn’t room for all of the peaches and brie on the plank then grill your peaches first, and then move to your brie.
  8. Cover the lid of the grill and let cook for approximately 10 to 12 minutes. The cheese will be warm and melted (it will still hold its shape with the rind, but you should be able to see that it might be starting to seep through a bit. The peaches should be warmed through and softened a bit. If using the oven, you can put the broiler on for a moment at the end to help caramelize the peaches a bit.
  9. Place on platter, salt & pepper to taste, drizzle with some honey, and serve!

How to serve grilled peaches and brie

You can do so many different things in serving this dish starting with just adding some grilled bread or tasty crackers and calling it a day. I wanted to add a bit more bulk to the dish so I added prosciutto, blackberries, apricot jam* (affiliate link), and sliced baguette.

What other summer fruit or vegetables would pair well with grilled brie? Share your thoughts in the comments below or @ me @JenniBost!

Maybe it is the season of life that I am in right now or perhaps it is because I like to host a lot of baby showers, but I’ve been getting asked frequently my thoughts on baby shower gifts. I often have a running list of ideas to share that haven’t really changed over the years…. however, very recently, I was introduced to two companies that I feel are out-of-the-box great ideas as gifts for new moms.

Both Finn & Co and Heartfelt Mamas were founded by mothers! They are both Spokane-area business women who felt a need was not being met and stepped up and met the need. I encourage you to check out their products or social media profiles and show them some support!

The following gift ideas are not sponsored, however, I received two of these items in a giveaway and was SO impressed that I had to share. All opinions are my own. These items were won through a giveaway without knowledge that they may be included in a blog post.

Finn the Panda from Finn and Co Gifts designed for babies in the NICU

Finn & Co Gifts – Finn the Panda

The idea behind this lovely stuffed panda is one that is both so smart and one that was born from a true need. While a great gift for lots of new moms, the purpose of the creation of this little panda was as a gift for a mom whose child is in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle Armstrong, the creator of this adorable stuffie. (That is what my kids called all stuffed animals!)

Finn the Panda was developed to help comfort babies during hospital stays, as well as to foster the bond between the baby and their caregivers, even when they have to be apart. It features:

  • Finn is made of antimicrobial material to help prevent the spread of germs to baby. This is SUPER important in a hospital environment, but also a great idea for daycare or home.
  • He wears a washable heart-shaped scent patch that can be detached and worn, then reattached to the bear. This means that mom or dad can place the patch close to their skin for some time and then attach to the bear so that their scent goes with baby wherever they may be.
  • A recording device that allows a song or comforting words of up to one minute to be played back once or on repeat may help to soothe baby or help with familiarity. I could see this being great for a grandparent who may be far away.
  • The contrasting black and white colors that appeal to baby’s early vision.
  • Finn is made of 100% cashmere to be amazingly soft and cuddly.
  • Finn and Co Gifts offer free shipping on a purchase of Finn the Panda as well as a 10% discount if you sign up for their newsletter. (Visit the Finn and Co Gifts website and scroll to the bottom of the page to enter an email for their newsletter.)
Michelle Armstrong created Finn the Panda after experiencing a NICU stay for her son.
Michelle Armstrong, creator of Finn the Panda, with her son.

We all wish for babies to be healthy at birth, but for many new mothers and many new families…this just isn’t an option. Finn the Panda is such a thoughtful way to allow family members an opportunity to feel that they are in some small way able to be with their baby even when they physically cannot be there. This would make such a lovely gesture to someone in your life. Or, perhaps you simply feel the desire to help SOMEONE in need. Sponsor a Finn the Panda that will be delivered to a NICU or ICU in your city.


As a mom who spent several months of her son’s first year of life in the hospital, I know the stress and pressure of hospital parenting.  I wanted to do everything I could for my son and often felt the guilt of not being able to be there for him every moment during his 57 day NICU stay.  I developed Finn the Panda so that even when you have to be away, you can leave a piece of you to provide comfort and bonding for your baby and you.

Michelle Armstrong, creator of Finn the Panda

While I don’t want to take away from the purpose of Finn. When I heard about him I wished I would have had one of pandas for the first few months that I went back to work and my son was getting used to a his new daycare. I believe it would be a wonderful gift for working moms (or dads), grandparents, and other loved ones who may wish to be near baby, but are unable to.

Heartfelt Mamas gift box

Heartfelt Mamas Gift Boxes

When I go to baby showers I often gift something from a registry or something I feel will be useful to baby and mom. However, when I get the pleasure of visiting a momma in the hospital or at home after a birth, I try to gift her something simply for her. She has gone through a lot!

Heartfelt Mamas for sure has something for brand new mamas, but that isn’t where this company stops. There are boxes curated specifically for different aspects of motherhood including miscarriage, grief, post-partum, or just an day-brightening everyday gift box. Each curated gift box features local Inland NW products and services.

Some of the items that may be found in Heartfelt Mamas Boxes:

  • Wild June Co Coffee Scrub and Lavender Nourish Skin Cream
  • Winterwoods Pacific Coast Lavender Tea
  • Bucket of Moon Beams Accessory Pouch
  • Chocolate
  • Gift Cards to local services
  • Sparkles Bakeshop Granola Rounds
  • Caring Coconut Soothing Spray

Gift boxes may be purchased from anywhere, but those within 45 miles of Spokane, WA have the option of purchasing the “local” gift box which sports services from local businesses such as fitness classes, coffee shops, nutrition consultants, spa services, and more.


Heartfelt Mamas stems from my own personal experiences and journey to find joy, happiness, and peace in this crazy thing we call motherhood. My heart is to help reduce anxiety, stress & comparisons in mamas in order to create happier, healthier families.

Cheree Sauer, Founder of Heartfelt Mamas

I love a company with a heart. Gift boxes can also be sponsored to give to a woman in need. In addition, a portion of the sales of gift boxes goes to create and give a box to a woman in need.

Mother-Lovin’ Gifts

I know that I would have appreciated either of the above gifts as a new mom and beyond. It has been a joy for me to stumble upon both of these mother-ran and operated companies with a genuine heart for fellow women. Whether you are shopping for the perfect baby shower gift, a gift for a new mom, a thoughtful gift for a mother who is grieving, or a way to give back to local moms, check out these two great companies!

Finn & Co Gifts | www.finnandcogifts.com | @FinnandCoGifts

Heartfelt Mamas | www.heartfeltmamas.com | @HeartfeltMamas

Do you have a special honey that deserves a sweet treat this Valentine’s Day? (Cheesy, yes… but, oh so accurate? Also yes.) My honey loves, loves, loves honey. So picking up the rainbow honey container for a blog post at Trader Joes is a win-win. These come 6 for $10 which makes this a fun and fairly affordable idea to give to friends, neighbors, and co-workers this Valentine’s Day.

This post is not sponsored. I just had a very successful, idea-driven shopping trip at my local Trader Joes. All the opinions and ideas are my own.

Supplies for a honey-themed valentine!

Supplies:

  • Free printable Honey Themed Valentine’s Tags
  • Honey! I love the cute little containers of honey that are sold in the Rainbow of Honey set at TJs. However, little honey bears would be equally as cute.
  • Bakers twine, ribbon, or string
  • Scissors
  • Hole Punch
Give your honey something sweet this Valentine's Day with these free printable honey-themed valentines.
Bee Sweet.

Directions:

  1. Download the Free Printable Honey Themed Valentine’s Tags by clicking the previous link and saving to your computer.
  2. Print the tags on white, cardstock weight paper in full-color using your home printer or your favorite local print shop.
  3. Cut out tags.
  4. Using the hole punch. cut a hole where the little circle is at the top of the tags.
  5. Write a sweet message and sign the back of the tag so your recipient knows who to thank!
  6. Using string, twine, or ribbon, tie on the tag to your honey container.
  7. Gift away.