It’s only days before Valentine’s Day and you might still be stressing over what to prepare for your significant other. With Omicron looming over, you may hesitate to have dinner in a fancy restaurant, but you can bring the romance factor into your own home by assembling a charcuterie board.

Sounds fancy, right? But it’s actually not that complicated since you can just do it yourself. You really don’t have to splurge for it—sometimes it just takes a little adventure in the kitchen.

On board

Of course, you cannot assemble your own charcuterie board without the base. If you don’t have a wooden board at home, you can definitely use a long or big plate or platter, as long as all of your food can fit.

You can never go wrong with meat

Charcuterie boards are known for having cured meats as part of the assemblage, but you could opt for more cost-friendly meat like sausage, ham, or even bacon (because who doesn’t love bacon, right?).

Say cheese!

Cheese is indisputably one of the most staple foods for special occasions. It offers a wide variety of flavors and would definitely stir up your palette. Unleash your inner cheese connoisseur by prepping slices of your preferred cheese in different shapes and sizes!

Crackers and/or bread

Sometimes we just want something to munch on while we wait for the main course, or even just to linger past dinner and spend quality time with our loved one. Treat yourselves with a simple baguette or cracker paired with your favorite household jam.

Be festive with chocolates and fruits!

Who doesn’t get giddy at the sight (and taste!) of bite-sized chocolates? But sometimes it might get too sweet from the get-go so balancing your charcuterie board with your choice of fruits will not only make your board more colorful but also healthier.

Getting ready for Valentine’s Day is not all about spending money. Sometimes it just needs a little bit of creativity and innovation to make things work.