Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The World's Best Pimento Cheese!
The Belle, here, with a good ol' southern favorite for you.
For years, my in-laws lived in Augusta, GA. And I think the world's best pimento cheese comes from there, from a woman that went to their church. She has a business called Very Vera. At Thanksgiving, my mother-in-law, who now lives in south Georgia, ordered a shipment of Vera's pimento cheese for us to eat over the weekend. I was in heaven! She even sent a container home with us (that lasted about five minutes.) :)
As I was about to throw away the container, I had stroke of genius: To save the label and see if I could come up with my own similar recipe. I have to say, it wasn't as good. But it's pretty good if I can't always have the real thing. And yep, I thought I'd share my recipe with you. :) I just made a small batch to test, so this'll be perfect for lunch for 1 or 2. But if you're making this for your family, you may need to double or triple. (I'm sorry I didn't think to do photos!)
1/4 to 1/2 wedge/block Cheddar Cheese (I used Hoop cheese that comes in the red wax because it's my favorite), grated (do the larger shred size so it doesn't all mush together)
Mayonnaise to taste. (I don't like mine as mayonnaise-y as some may. Just enough to hold it together)
1 small strip Roasted Red Pepper, chopped. I planned to roast my own but ended up using jarred peppers. They were a little too mushy but would do in a pinch.
Dash of Emeril's Original Essence (I used this in place of the spices on Vera's label.) Do this one dash at a time and taste. Mine was a little too salty.
Fresh, course ground black pepper to taste.
Dash of Cayenne pepper to taste. Vera's has a nice hint of heat.
Mix it all up and serve on a sandwich, with crackers or with pita chips.
Be sure to check out Vera's website. She has some amazing foods they'll mail to your home! My in-laws used to mail us cakes on all our birthdays (yummy strawberry or carrot or red velvet!). And sometimes for a special treat they'd also send me the pimento cheese. :)
By the way... I was thrilled one day when I happened to turn on The Food Network and saw Vera in a Thrown Down with Bobby Flay! They were competing with carrot cakes. I love her carrot cake! But I won't tell you who won. You'll have to click the link and go watch it. :)
Do you have a favorite recipe for pimento cheese?
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So sorry about the post! I thought I had it set to go up at midnight, but I somehow messed that up. Just now discovered it wasn't up!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, Missy, that growing up in the north, pimento cheese always had that same stigma that fruitcake carries...if you ran out of everything else, then you might open the jar of pimento cheese.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, that "pimento cheese" was usually some concoction with processed cheeses and some red things mixed in.
Your recipe sounds worth trying - I think you'll make a convert out of me!
Just think, if the Yankee-Belle Cafe had been around 150 years ago, could the Civil War (aka The War of Northern Aggression, aka "the late unpleasantness")have been averted? Something to consider...
May I borrow your in-laws? If not I'll give this recipe a try!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Donna! :) They're wonderful. I'm afraid I'm pretty attached to them and can't share. So give the recipe a try. (Sorry for being so selfish!) ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, if you'r sure, I'll just go add this to my ever growing shopping list.
ReplyDeleteI bet she makes a mean chicken salad!
You know, Donna, I don't know that I've ever had her chicken salad. I'll have to request that next time! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea! I love cream cheese and green olives, but I've never tried anything like this. Missy, it sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI must turn on some TSO.... it's that time of year!
TSO?
ReplyDeleteI love pimento cheese. I usually put it in my cheeseball, but recently I bought a jar to spread on crackers. I could have eaten the whole thing by itself. It was a very small jar.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm gonna feel stupid when I see what "TSO" means.
TransSiberian Orchestra! YES!
ReplyDeleteI have plumbed the depths of my Ruthy knowledge and emerged victorious.
And I've found one thing that we don't have in common. Not a huge fan myself.
ReplyDeleteWow, Andrea! I'm impressed! You've got me beat on that one. I had no clue. :)
ReplyDelete