PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD

When my brother and his family were here in July I made Pimento Cheese sandwiches for lunch.  None of these born and bred Nebraskans had ever had Pimento Cheese sandwiches!!!  I love Pimento Cheese and I have three different recipes that I have made.  I am going to post all three recipes and depending on what you have on hand, one of these might work for you.  When I originally moved south and made my first batch of pimento cheese I used Miss Daisy‘s Pimiento Cheese Sandwich Filling.  I didn’t think it could get any better than this until I made Bobby’s Pimento Cheese, made famous by his mother, Paula Deen!
The third recipe is a basic pimento cheese, made simple, fast, and easy.  The great thing about Pimento cheese is that it makes a sandwich even the little kids will eat!  Oh one more thing — thanks again Sue!  Yes, I bought a microplane, and I don’t know what I have done without it all these years.  It has quickly become one of my favorite things in the kitchen!!!

**Miss Daisy’s Pimiento Cheese Sandwich Filling
**

1 – 4 oz. can pimientos, drained and chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Durkee’s Sauce
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, gratedIn a large bowl combine all of the ingredients except the Cheddar cheese, and mix well.

Add the cheese and mix again.  Refrigerate.To serve, spread on fresh white bread.
Crust is optional.

Yield:  3  1/2  cups

MY FAVORITE!!!

**BOBBY’S PIMENTO CHEESE
**

1 – 3 ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Salt* and Pepper to taste
3 Tablespoons pimentos, mashed
1 teaspoon grated onion*

Using a food processor or electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.

Add all of the remaining ingredients and beat until well blended.

This is delicious used as a dip for crackers or as a sandwich filling.

* If you grate the onion using a microplane or fine grater the onion becomes juicy.  This onion and juice mixes well in the spread.
*  Pimento is fairly salty so you may not need to add any salt.

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS:

**PIMENTO CHEESE SANDWICH SPREAD
**

1/2 lb. Sharp cheddar cheese, at room temperature
4 oz. jar pimento, undrained
1/2 cup mayonnaise

1. Grate or mash the cheddar cheese until creamy.
2. Mash pimento in liquid from jar until fine.
3. Combine cheese and pimento; add mayonnaise.
4. Cream until fluffy.
5. Salt and pepper, to taste.

Yields 2 cups

A pimento or cherry pepper is a variety of large, red, heart-shaped chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) that measures 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm) long and 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm) wide (medium, elongate). The flesh of the pimento is sweet, succulent and more aromatic than that of the red bell pepper. Some varieties of the pimento type are hot, including the Floral Gem and Santa Fe Grande varieties. “Pimiento” is the Spanish word. “Pimento” or “pimentão” are Portuguese words for “bell pepper”, while “pimenta” refers both to chili peppers and to black peppercorns. It is typically used fresh, or pickled and jarred. The pimento has one of the lowest Scoville scale ratings of any chili pepper.