Pimento Cheese Spread

Pimento Cheese Spread

I’ve eaten it on crackers, in sandwiches and stuffed in celery.  If you were raised in the South, been in the South or knew anyone from the South, chances are you know about “pimmenocheese”.  We say it like it’s one big word.  My mother and grandmother both made this a lot.  I think it probably kept us all alive!  They would use sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and  jarred pimentos.  It was simple and quick and fed hungry children at lunchtime.  There’s not a thing in this world wrong with that basic recipe.  I just wanted to “Jackie-ise” it , add more flavors but keep it the simple “pimmenocheese” that is so familiar to us.  I LOVE the way this turned out.  I’m keeping my grandchildren this weekend .  In honor of Grilled Cheese Sandwich  week, I’m making them grilled “pimmenocheese” sandwiches.  For a tea that I’m hosting soon, I will make “pimmenocheese” sandwiches on white bread and cut them with a teapot cookie cutter.  They will be so cute I won’t be able to stand it!

It’s important to know that you should never use pre-shredded cheese in this dish because it has a coating on it to keep it from sticking together and your dressing will not cling to it.  You wind up with an undesirable texture.  Nothing wrong with the flavor but the coating on the cheese will keep it from mixing well with the mayonnaise.  Also, I think a blend of sharp cheddar and medium cheddar is essential.  I used jarred flame roasted red peppers instead of pimentos and about 1 tablespoon of grated sweet onion.  By pureeing half the pepper instead of dicing it all, the pepper flavor is easier to distribute throughout.

Here’s the ingredients:

8 oz. extra sharp cheddar

8 oz. medium sharp cheddar

1/4 cup  flame roasted red peppers ( I used Vigo brand and it wound up being about 1/2 of a 12 oz jar. Dice half and puree half. )

1 tbsp finely grated sweet onion

3/4 to 1 cup good quality mayonnaise (I prefer Duke’s) or 1/2 cup “Eat and Grow Thin” Dressing

1 or 2  shakes Worcestershire sauce

Pimento cheese ready for sandwich duty.

Grate cheese and place in a large bowl.  Add red peppers (1/2 diced and 1/2 pureed)  Mix mayonnaise, grated onion and Worcestershire sauce together. Pour into cheese mixture and mix well.

Pimmenocheese.