pimiento cheese

[vbostick]

Does anyone have a recipe for pimiento cheese. My husband loves it on his sandwich, but I hate buying it at the grocery store. It looks so processed and is full of additives. Thanks!

[sneezles]

I've not tried it but emptyspool posted this one last year:

Pimento Cheese

1 lb. grated sharp cheddar (I use Cracker Barrel)
1 8 oz jar pimentos, drained
1 8 oz, package cream cheese
3/4 cup mayo ( I use Blue Plate)
2 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp cayenne

Put all in a mixer, mix on medium speed until well blended. Or stir by hand.

[sneezles]

And then there's this thread (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?p=823305&highlight=pimento+cheese#post823305) that has a couple of recipes.

[golden1225]

I grew up eating pimiento cheese sandwiches!! My mom makes it better than any I've ever had. She shreds Velveeta, adds chopped pimientos, mayonnaise, a little salt and occasionally a little pickle juice. I think she probably used Miracle Whip when she didn't have pickle juice.
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! And of course it tastes best on Wonder Bread!
:) :) :)

[dixie]

Sneezle's recipe looks pretty authentic to me...I don't use that much cream cheese tho, and I've recently started cheating and using pre-grated, finely grated sharp cheese...otherwise I never want to make it.

2-3 cups grated sharp cheddar
~2 oz softed cream cheese
~1 T finely minced mild onion (optional)
mayo to desired consistency (1/2-3/4 cup) (and it has to be Hellmans!)
1 jar of diced pimentos drained
salt and pepper to taste

mix together. ON soft white bread...yum!

[tperes]

I've not tried it but emptyspool posted this one last year:

Pimento Cheese

1 lb. grated sharp cheddar (I use Cracker Barrel)
1 8 oz jar pimentos, drained
1 8 oz, package cream cheese
3/4 cup mayo ( I use Blue Plate)
2 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp cayenne

Put all in a mixer, mix on medium speed until well blended. Or stir by hand.

This is closely to how I make it, except minus the cream cheese, I use low-fat mayo (preferably Duke's, tho Kraft is fine), regular salt, and fresh cracked pepper. Lately I have been using banana peppers that we put up two years ago in place of the pimentos. Always yummy!

[Kay Henderson]

I make it only rarely, but this thread brings back happy memories as pimento-cheese sandwiches were a favorite of my mom when I was growing up. We loved the state fair so much that my father would take a day off so that my family could go on a weekday. To this day, I see the fair in my mind's eye when I come across pimento and cheese.

My mother also often stuffed celery with her special mixture that was very good also.

Kay

[cherylopal]

My DH had pimento cheese last summer for the first time and decided he loved it. I grew up with it too although I never made it. Is it a southern thing? Anyway, I found this recipe from Paula Deen but haven't made it yet.

Bobby's Pimento Cheese
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen


Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 3 cups
User Rating:


1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup grated sharp cheddar
1 cup grated Monterey Jack
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon House Seasoning, recipe follows
2 to 3 tablespoons pimentos, smashed
1 teaspoon grated onion
Cracked black pepper
Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Add all of the remaining ingredients and beat until well blended. It can be used as a dip for crudite or as a sandwich filling.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

[BetsyS]

My recipe is very simple...

Sharp cheddar cheese, grated
mayo, preferably Duke's
pimentos, either jarred or you can sub roasted red peppers if the garden is a little crazy for you

That's it. Mix all that up in the food processor, then whirl until smooth. You can add a jalapeno or two to give it a kick, but then you have green specks that you have to convince picky eaters are supposed to be there. Sometimes it's worth it, sometimes not. :)

I love homemade pimento cheese. I'm told that my mother craved that and Cokes in small bottles when she was pregnant with me.

[vbostick]

Wow so many different recipes! It's funny bc I like pimiento cheese, however I hate mayonnaise and I see that it is a main ingredient. I'm going to experiment with a few and see which one suits us best. Thanks for all the great recipes!

[ADM]

* Exported from MasterCook *

Pimiento Cheese Spread - Smooth


Serving Size : 16 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Eggs & Cheese Sandwiches

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup cheddar cheese -- grated
2 cups American cheese -- grated
1 2 ounce jar pimientos -- chopped
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Heat all ingredients, except pimentos, in a double boiler. When cheese is fully melted add pimientos. Refrigerate.
---------------------------------------------------------

* Exported from MasterCook *

Sandwich - Pimiento Cheese Spread - Chunky

Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Sandwiches Eggs & Cheese

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 cups Cheddar cheese -- cubed
1/4 cup salad dressing
1 2 ounce jar pimiento -- chopped

Mix cheese and salad dressing. Stir in pimiento. Also, you "could" use 2 cups processed American cheese, cubed. Mix with salad dressing and pimiento.

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[KCSoccer]

I highly recommend Paula Deen's recipe that Cherylopal posted above. Very yummy. I love to spread it on sourdough bread, broil it in the toaster oven until it's all melty. YUM!

[golden1225]

Is it a southern thing? .
My family is from TN and they all serve it; I don't recall any of my friends ever eating it when we lived in DE and it wasn't sold in the grocery store like it is here in FL.
:)

[Kingwell]

I've had a number of variations. Some optional ingredients to consider to any Pimiento cheese recipe:
blue cheese
Worchestersire sauce
beer (just a tad)

I'm a big fan of the Worchestershire.

[ande]

Here's my mother-in-law's recipe, which we used to make & sell at a cheese shop/deli she used to own. She'd probably not be happy with me giving the recipe out, but hey, how will she ever know? Besides it's just a recipe; it's not like it's really "hers" or anything!

Anyway, I never thought I liked pimiento cheese till I had this. Most are way too mayonnaise-y for me, but I love this stuff.

PIMIENTO CHEESE
1 1/2 pounds sharp cheese, grated
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
3 tbsp. minced onion
3/4 cup mayo
4 oz. jar pimiento, drained

Blend onion with vinegar in blender. Place in mixer bowl along with all other ingredients & beat well.

We used mostly sharp cheese, but often added bits of other kinds of cheese we needed to use up.

Enjoy!
ande

[cherylopal]

Not a huge mayo fan at all however it does have it's place I guess. I looked at the recipes posted here and compared cheese to mayo (sort of- does anyone know how pounds of cheese converts into cups? Is 1/2 pound or 8 oz about 2 cups??

sneezles- 1# cheddar, 8 oz other cheese, 3/4 cup mayo

dixie- 2-3 cups cheddar, 2 oz other cheese, 1/2 - 3/4 mayo

paula deen (cheryl)- 1 cup cheddar, 1 cup other, 1/2 cup mayo

ande- 1 1/2# cheddar, 3/4 cup mayo

How can "Paula Deen the Mayo Queen" not have the most mayo in her cheese spread????



Kingwell- about how much Worchestershire sauce would you add to the Paula Deen recipe??

[tperes]

I've had a number of variations. Some optional ingredients to consider to any Pimiento cheese recipe:
blue cheese
Worchestersire sauce
beer (just a tad)

I'm a big fan of the Worchestershire.

I agree with kristin that beer and worchestershire do wonders for pimiento cheese, but when I add these I then feel the need to change the name to "Beer Cheese." (Probably b/c I use more than a tad of beer! :p )

[ande]

cherylopal, 1 pound of cheese is 4 cups grated. I hadn't directly compared my MIL's recipe to others as far as the cheese:mayo ratio before...now I know why I like hers so much more!

ande

[cherylopal]

So that makes Paula's higher in mayo- as it should be!! ;) :D :D All is right in the world now!! (Well for how things should be- I reread that and it sounded like I love mayo which I kinda just tolerate.)

[Kingwell]

Sorry for the late response, but to Paula's recipe (or most, really), I would start with two teaspoons of Worcestershire, taste, and then add more by the teaspoon if needed. I love the stuff, but since it is salty and strong, I imagine there are folks who aren't as crazy about it as me!

[cherylopal]

Thanks- it's good to have a guide to start. I do love the taste too!

[krhm]

I made the Paula Deen version for fourth of July, then warmed it and served it with baguette slices. I was trying to recreate a hot dip that we'd had in Asheville, NC, that was soooo awesome. I like the idea of adding a little beer!