10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
10 ounces Monterey Jack or white cheddar cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 cups fresh broccoli florets, washed and trimmed
1 cup cherry tomatoes, kept whole
1 cup green grapes, removed from the stem
4 ounces turkey pepperoni or sliced turkey summer sausage
1/2 cup pitted green olives
1 large yellow bell pepper
10 to 12 pretzel sticks
Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
Start by washing all your produce thoroughly. Cut the cheeses into uniform cubes and slice your turkey sausage or pepperoni if it is not already pre-sliced. Ensure the broccoli florets are small and bite-sized so they fit easily onto the board.
On a large rectangular wooden board or platter, begin forming the bottom of the tree. Place a horizontal row of cheddar cheese cubes to act as the widest part of the tree base. Above that, add a row of broccoli florets, slightly narrower than the cheese row, to start the triangular shape.
Continue building the tree upward by layering rows of different ingredients. Add a row of Monterey Jack cheese, followed by a row of cherry tomatoes. Next, add a row of turkey pepperoni or summer sausage. Follow this with a row of green grapes and another row of broccoli. Continue tapering the width of the rows as you move toward the top of the board to create a triangle shape.
Slice the yellow bell pepper and use a small star-shaped cookie cutter to create a star for the very top of the tree. If you do not have a cutter, you can carefully freehand a star with a small paring knife. Place the pretzel sticks at the very bottom center of the tree to represent the trunk.
Tuck fresh rosemary sprigs into the gaps between the rows to mimic the look of pine needles and add a lovely holiday aroma. Place the green olives randomly on the “branches” to look like ornaments. Serve immediately or cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until guests arrive.
