The Best Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe

The Best Pimento Cheese Recipe

If you ask anyone from the Southern part of the United States what their favorite appetizer is, undoubtedly, they will answer pimento cheese. A staple in most Southern households, pimento cheese is a tasty savory spread made mainly of different cheeses, mayonnaise, pimentos, etc. It is a fantastic dip with crackers and vegetables, but it is versatile enough to be used in countless culinary dishes—more on that in a bit.

This easy recipe comes from our friend Sandra from Lexington, South Carolina. Her recipe uses Cherchies® Pretty Peppers and Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, and she insists on only using Duke’s* mayonnaise (a preferred Southern mayonnaise- much harder to find here in Pennsylvania). Her family and friends rave about this recipe; we think you will too. Make this tasty dip for your next gathering, and watch it disappear right before your eyes. It is easy, addicting, and is sure to become one of your favorite recipes.

Not only is pimento cheese the perfect complement to crackers and vegetables, but did you know you can cook with it? Here are a few ideas to get your creative culinary juices flowing:

• As a sandwich between two slices of bread

• In grilled cheese sandwiches

• In Macaroni and cheese

• Served on top of burgers

• Heated to serve as a fondue with bread chunks

• Folded into grits

• Dolloped over fries to create incredible cheese fries.

• On top of baked potatoes

• Folded in deviled eggs

• So much more!

What is your favorite way to use pimento cheese?

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have made this delicious recipe featuring Cherchies® Pretty Peppers and Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning Blend. Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Enjoy!

*Note- We have also tested this recipe with Helman’s for the same great results.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (we prefer to use freshly grated cheese, rather than bagged shredded cheese).

• 1/2 cup grated pepper jack cheese (we prefer to use freshly grated cheese, rather than bagged shredded cheese).

• 1/2 cup grated Monterrey Jack Cheese (we prefer to use freshly grated cheese, rather than bagged shredded cheese).

• 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature.

• 1/2 cup *Duke’s Mayonnaise (or more for desired consistency)

• 1/2 jar Cherchies® Pretty Peppers, drained

• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning (more to taste)

• Ground pepper to taste

Preparation

Drain the Pretty Peppers in a colander and set them aside. Add softened cream cheese to a medium bowl. Grate the cheddar, Monterrey Jack, and pepper jack cheeses and add them to the bowl. Add the mayonnaise, Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, pepper, and mix with a hand mixer.

Once combined, gently add in the Pretty Peppers and stir with a spoon or spatula until thoroughly combined.

Refrigerate for at least two hours. The flavors only intensify, so making this ahead of a gathering is perfectly acceptable. Add crackers and vegetables for a delicious dip when ready to serve, the perfect addition to charcuterie platters. Or, add the pimento cheese to your favorite dish (see above).

Enjoy!

Baked Apple Cider Donuts Recipe

Baked Apple Cider Donuts Recipe

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Difficulty: Easy

One of the fondest memories I remember growing up was Apple Cider Donuts from our local orchard. It was always a special treat when my parents would bring home a bag full of them for my sister and me to enjoy. The ones from the orchard were deep-fried and dredged in cinnamon sugar, so the outside was crisp and sweet, yet the inside was fluffy and moist. Yummy!

Fall is notorious for everything apples, apple cider, applesauce, apple butter, and so much more. We will not even touch on pumpkin spice (that’s for another blog post). I am always looking for new recipes for Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread, and I ran across this recipe for Baked Apple Cider Donuts, which I adapted from littlespicejar.com. Even though most foods deep-fried are incredibly decadent, I prefer the baked version, and these melt-in-your-mouth donuts will not disappoint. The donuts were nicely crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, with the perfect cinnamon/sugar richness to round out your taste buds, just like I remember, sans all the calories.

So the next time you have a craving for the flavors of Fall, whip up these Baked Apple Cider Donuts for your family but grab some for yourself because they will disappear right before your eyes.

Comment below and let us know if you made this tasty recipe.

Thank you for visiting, and please come back again.

Donut ingredients: (adapted from littlespicejar.com)

• 2 cups apple cider

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 large egg

• 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted

• 2/3 cup light brown sugar

• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup half and half, mixed with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar)

• 2 tablespoons Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  For the cinnamon-sugar coating

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Preparation

1. Begin by simmering the apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until it reduces down to about 1/2 cup. Pour the apple cider into a small bowl and refrigerate while you prepare the donut batter.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Spray a donut pan (we used a silicone donut pan from Wappa) with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt, set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the egg, melted butter, and brown sugar, whisk until smooth. Then, add in the apple butter, vanilla, buttermilk, and concentrated apple cider.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until combined.

5. Either pour the batter by the spoonful (about 3/4s of the way full) into the prepared donut pans (We used Wappa silicone donut pans) or add batter to a large ziplock-type bag and snip off the end with a pair of kitchen scissors for a make-shift pastry bag. If you go this route, you will need to squeeze the batter into the donut pan. In either case, make sure to not overfill.

6. Bake donuts for 9-12 minutes or until done. Insert a toothpick into a donut and remove. The toothpick should come out clean.

For the cinnamon sugar coating:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon together. Dip the tops of each donut into the melted butter then coat with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Repeat with all the donuts. For best results, donuts should be eaten the same day but they can be stored for up to 2 days if tightly wrapped and kept at room temperature.

   Enjoy!

The Best Cowboy Caviar Recipe

The Best Cowboy Caviar Dip Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Serves a crowd

Difficulty: Easy

Hello friends. How are you doing? We all are finally beginning to return to some sense of normalcy, and more of us are seeing family and friends, entertaining, and it feels nice. I have been wanting to post this delicious Cowboy Caviar dip recipe for some time, but it seemed unbefitting writing about entertaining and parties when most of us were hunkering down at home. Times are changing.

This tasty dip (featuring Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro) is extremely easy to make, and it will surely become your favorite go-to dip for summer entertaining, for game day, or just about any occasion. It is fabulous as a quick dip, but versatile enough to use as a topping for tacos, over grilled fish or chicken as a nice punch of freshness, and so much more! 

I first learned of Cowboy Caviar (or Texas Caviar) Recipe many years ago from The Rachel Ray Show (thank you, Rachael). The intriguing part about this dip is that it uses frozen corn, so by the time your guests arrive, this corn has been defrosted and the dip is chilled to perfection and ready to serve with your favorite chips. The Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend takes the flavors in this dish over the top. This recipe feeds a crowd, so depending on the size of your gathering, you can add more beans, tomatoes, and corn. Just adjust the vinegar and oil accordingly.

So the next time you are looking for a new, easy, flavorful dip recipe to serve your guests this summer, look no further and make this tasty black bean and corn dip. Your guests will love it and may even ask you for the recipe.

Thank you for visiting and please come back and visit. Please comment below if you made this recipe. We love hearing from you!  

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups frozen corn

• 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed

• 1 15 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained and rinsed (can substitute fresh chopped tomatoes)

• 1 small red onion, finely diced (can substitute diced green onions (white and green part)

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1/2 cup white vinegar (or a combination of white and red vinegar)

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp.) Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning (more to taste)

• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp.) ground black pepper

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp.) fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Can be made a day ahead and chilled in the refrigerator. (*This recipe is better if made the day before, as it allows the flavors to marry and intensify). If need in a hurry, leave on the counter an hour before guests arrive to defrost the corn).

Serve with your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy!

Mini Herbed Cheese Ball Recipe

Mini Herbed Cheese Ball Recipe

Don't let the ball drop this New Year's without trying these classic mini herbed cheese balls with pretzel sticks. Individually portioned and perfect for social distancing, these tasty, colorful morsels are easy to make and pop in your mouth as you pop open the bubbly. These festive cheese balls, featuring Cherchies® Seasoning blends can be made ahead, allowing you more time to ring in the New Year with those you hold dear.

Did you know?  Research shows that serving round foods (which resemble coins, meaning wealth) on New Years' is supposed to bring good luck. After an unprecedented year like 2020, good luck sounds dreamy right now.

Even though your New Year's Eve plans may look different this year, you can still make it a night to remember with these mini savory cheeseballs. They are easy to make, they can be made ahead, and they are an absolute must-have recipe for your New Year's arsenal. 

Have a safe and Happy New Year, friends! Thank you for visiting, and please come back again!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

• 4 oz. bleu cheese, room temperature

• 4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 small onion, grated or finely minced

• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

• Cherchies® Lem’n Dill Seasoning, Cherchies Pepper Pizzazz, and Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend (We tested this recipe with these seasoning blends, but feel free to experiment with your favorite and report back to us!)
  
  Preparation

  Allow the cream cheese to rest on the counter in the package for about 30 minutes, or until softened to room temperature. (If you are in a rush, try this trick. Place sealed package of cream cheese, sans the box, in a small bowl with warm water. This will allow the cream cheese to soften quicker).

  In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, bleu cheese, cheddar cheese, minced onions, and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (can also be made ahead to chill in refrigerator over night).

When close to serving, evenly distribute the Cherchies® Seasoning Blends on three plates. (This will be used to roll up the mini cheese balls.) With a melon ball scooper, scoop out individual portions of the cheese mixture and roll in the various seasoning blends.

When ready to serve, add a pretzel stick for individual tasty portions. Enjoy!