SHOPPING LIST: Cooking Skills: Cheese and Party Snacks 1, Chapter 1 (Know Your Cheese)

Buy small pieces of four different cheeses from a cheese counter if you can, plus fruit and crackers. Check labels for pasteurised and vegetarian rennet if they matter. A board or large plate, and a separate knife for each cheese.

A simple two-cheese board (2 portions)
[ ] 60 g a hard cheese (mature cheddar or similar)
[ ] 60 g a soft cheese (a pasteurised goat's cheese, or a mild creamy cheese)
[ ] 1 handful crackers (shop-bought for now)
[ ] 1 handful grapes
[ ] 1 tbsp chutney or honey

Fruit-and-cheese plate (1 portion)
[ ] 1 apple
[ ] 1 pear
[ ] 1 celery stick
[ ] 80 g cheddar or other hard cheese
[ ] 1 tsp honey
[ ] 1 handful walnuts or almonds (optional)

A tasting flight (2 to 4 portions)
[ ] 4 × 30 g cheeses of different types, about 30 g each (for example mozzarella or feta, a hard cheese, a semi-hard cheese, and a mild blue or washed-rind cheese)
[ ] 1 plain cracker or bread, to cleanse the palate
[ ] 1 glass of water

A board for six (6 portions)
[ ] 1 piece, about 40 g mild cheese
[ ] 1 piece, about 40 g medium cheese
[ ] 1 piece, about 40 g strong cheese or a hard blue
[ ] 1 piece, about 40 g soft cheese, pasteurised
[ ] 1 pear or apple
[ ] 1 handful grapes
[ ] 1 handful crackers
[ ] 1 tbsp chutney or jam
[ ] 1 handful nuts (check allergies)

For the experiments
[ ] Extra cheddar
[ ] Baking paper and cling film
[ ] Honey