Whether you are having a casual get-together with friends, serving a pre-holiday meal appetizer or just looking for something different and simple for dinner, cheese boards are a great alternative. I have a few tips to make it surprisingly simple to put together but still manage to look impressive. Cheese boards are can be perfectly dressed up as a wine tasting or dinner party appetizer, or can be totally casual to serve at a tailgate party.

1. The cheese - Simple is best. Otherwise you will end up with a mess of different cheeses at the end of the night and no idea what to do with them. I recommend sticking to 3-4 types of cheeses and providing a basic variety, unless you know for sure that the crowd you are hosting is up for an adventure. Stick with a basic aged sharp cheddar which is pretty universally enjoyed. Then add a nice soft cheese like brie or goat cheese. A nice hard cheese like parmesan or asiago rounds out the flavors nicely and may be something that many of your guests have never tried other than as a topping on an entree. If you want to add one more, you could go a little more daring like blue cheese (which I personally love) but most likely you will only want a small amount of this one.
2. The carbs - cheese needs crackers. Period. You can have a couple different kinds but I'd stick with basic options here. My favorites are water crackers and butter crackers. Another great addition is a loaf of crusty baguette bread sliced and warmed up. Drizzle with a little olive oil if desired.
3. The sweets - A couple of sweets will pair well with the cheeses and help bring out the flavors. Fruits and jams are simple but delicious options. You can go for the expected choice of grapes or you could add some melon or berries instead. I love to add a jar of jam, something local is always a fun addition and a great conversation piece.
4. The salty - you can't have the sweet without the salty! Of course, your crackers have some salt, so no need to go overboard here, but I like to add a few olives for good measure.
5. Optional - some meat. I suggest a little proscuitto because it's something a little different and looks kind of fancy. It can be a little pricy though, so feel free to leave off as well.

And just a couple of other notes that I hope you will find helpful:

1. Where should you purchase the cheese? Wherever is convenient to you and fits within your budget. Most large supermarkets have a great selection of cheeses. There are also many local specialty shops where you can get a bit more guidance. If you ever get the opportunity to talk with a cheese monger I highly recommend it. You can learn so much and they are more than willing to share their knowledge.
2. Make sure you take your cheese out of the fridge about an hour before serving. This will allow it to display it's best flavors.
3. Have fun! You know the people that you are inviting, and probably have a general idea of what they will like. Keep it simple, don't try to overdo it, and just enjoy!