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Some of those being the humidity (take note, southern women don't sweat, we "glisten")
The dialect (hun-neh and pah-dun, included)
and especially important, the food.
And be quite certain there "ain't" no one that can serve it up like someone's momma or grandmomma.
Those of you that were not lucky enough to be born in the south can cook like one, with the proper instructions, mind you. Today we are going to examine some of those essential and defining southern dishes. Pretty soon, you will be serving up a slice of cornbread and sweet tea like a southern belle. Ok, almost....we still need to work on that drawl. In the meantime....the dishes.
Every Tuesday on my recipe blog, Plates and Places, I will introduce you to the fine art of southern cuisine.
Today, Pimento Cheese.
You either love it or hate it. Unless of course, you are like me and have had a complicated relationship with such a cheese. If you read or have read my blog, you might know my affinity for cheese.
Yes, it's true. I could totally relate to the infamous Seinfeld episode, "The Summer of George" where he equated happiness and bliss with cheddar cheese the size of a wagon wheel.
And it was I, as a child who stood in line waitig to see Santa, to hear young girls in front of me request a Barbie Mansion and a Wetsy Betsey doll. Imagine Santa's surprise when I asked, in all seriousness for a cheese tray. I am still trying to decipher that one with the help of a good shrink. Oh, I kid.
But I do not kid when it comes to cheese. However, up until about a year ago, I wouldn't even get near a pimento cheese sandwich. The thought of eating anything with mayonnaise completely disgusted me. Then one day, I sat with my mother at a local deli, Zoe's Kitchen, and she insisted (for the 4,357th time) that I try a bite.
"At least try it, Leigh."
"Moooom! I am 38 years old. I do not want to try it."
And then she gave me "the look". Yes, you know the one. The one that each and every mother innately develops as soon as she gives birth to her first born child. Initially we first demonstrate it to our husbands as we push the child through the birth canal, a simple reminder of what he did to cause this ---the look of complete madness. It's beyond a force.
Oh, wait....pimento cheese sandwiches. I was getting onto another subject. LOL.
Pimento cheese, so I tried it and I loved it. And I craved it. And I bought a pint and I hid it in the back of the fridge, away from my husband and children. And so, I feel in love with it.
As I was saying though, most either have an opinion one way of the other. It's rarely a subject in which one will ride the fence. And if in fact you are riding the fence....well, here is betting you that Zoe's can bring you down.
What? Don't have a Zoe's in your neighborhood? Here is a great recipe for Pimento Cheese, though not Zoe's...it's goood.
Pimento Cheese
2 cups of shredded pepper jack cheese
1/4 cup of minced pimentos (or use fire roasted red peppers, if you have them)
3 green onions, white part only, minced
1 garlic clove minced
1 1/2 tsp of smoked paprika
1/2 tsp of white or black pepper
1 finely minced fresh jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed
1/4 cup best quality mayonnaise
Chop. Mince. Combine. Let flavors mellow at least one hour in the refrigerator if you can.
Good on crackers, celery sticks, or as a burger topping. My favorite is on toasted bread. Yum.
11 comments:
I'm gonna try this but not sure of the 'pepper jack cheese', is that anything like Cheddar - not seen in here
S
My recipe is a tad different than this, Leigh. We do love our Pimento Cheese! OH my yes. In fact I am as much in love with cheese as you, I do believe.
We both love our cheese, as a matter of fact. We are such cheese fanatics, we drove 18 miles down the road, to the next town, just to buy Old Canadian cheese. It's a brand of sharp American our children introduced us to, several years ago. We are so well known at that particular deli counter, they know exactly what we are there for and we've become quite well acquainted with the "cheese lady"!;-) How our hearts were broken a few months ago, when we were told Dierberg's, would no longer be stocking Old Canadian. In our neck of the woods, if you can't find it at Dierberg's it doesn't exist! J even found his beloved Scrapple at Dierberg's. We've found another sharp American cheese, but it's not quite the same as Old Canadian.
Wow!! So this is a Southern thing?? Well, I am going to have to copy it down. We all love cheese here, especially pepper jack!! Ii have a Greek Turkey burger I am trying today so maybe I will just set out both toppings...
Thanks, Leigh. This is going to be a great Tuesday event, especially for us Yankees!! ;-)
xoxo
jane
Ohh, I love Pimento Cheese! Yummy! Will you just make me some and then I'll pop ove! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Pimento cheese is one of my Father-in-laws favorites! I have made it for him before. I'll have to try this recipe next time I do!
We love pimento cheese. My hubby makes it from time to time. He uses a recipe from The Blue Willow Inn cookbook. I think some people are so use to the stuff from the plastic container that they don't want to try the good stuff. Worlds better!
Well we are from the south and we adore pimento cheese... especially my husband... Thanks for the recipe I will be making it for him... It looks so yummy. From one cheese lover to another have a cheesy day!!!
(((HUGS)))
Donna
I love pimiento and cheese. I love it when we tailgate at Auburn games. I love it for supper. I love it as a snack and for a dip on crackers. I love the stuff. I have not always loved it. When I was a kid my mom would buy that mess in a tub at the grocery store...it is nasty. While visiting my aunt once...she made homemade and made me eat it. I have been addicted to it ever since. I will try your recipe too...it looks good.
I love good pimento cheese--on crackers or with chips, on a sandwich, and yes, by the spoonful right out of the container.
I will try that one..and yeah, I like it with velveeta. However, we're in CO and it is not to be found at ANY single grocery here. Not Walmart, not Whole Foods (I figured they'd have a froofy one but still have one...they ARE a Texas-grown place) but NO!!!!!!! I love pimento cheese.
And Sara, ABC - monterey cheese--could be defined as a Mexican cheese in your area. it's a semi-soft white cheese w/jalapenos (usually) in it.
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