A lovely pimento cheese made with roasted red peppers.

Roasted Red Pepper Pimento Cheese

I don't what it is about pimento cheese, but I sure love it.

Yeah, I even like the stuff in the little containers in the refrigerator case at the market, though I admit, homemade is so much more delicious, and just super easy to throw together.

A southern favorite, and of course, like most traditional and old fashioned recipes, every southern cook has their own way of making it too. I happen to have a couple of my own, but I love this one that replaces those little jars of chopped pimiento peppers with flavorful roasted red peppers.

Pecan and Pimento Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Pecan and Pimento Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Now I love pimiento cheese all ways - good ole basic homemade, made with roasted red peppers, and yeah, even the fluorescent orange, goopey store-bought stuff - but if you usually buy the grocery store pimiento cheese spread, then this recipe is a bit different than the spread you are accustomed to.

Much less mayonnaise than most home recipes, and an addition of cream cheese and pecans (which you can leave out if you prefer) and garlic, it's a bit of a unexpected flavor surprise to the mouth, though be sure to label it for those with nut allergies!

Basic pimento cheese spread, made with sharp cheddar cheese, chopped pimentos, mayonnaise, and for me, a little hot sauce, Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire.

Classic Pimento Cheese

Classic pimento cheese, in its purest form is simply shredded yellow, or sometimes white cheddar, anywhere from mild to extra sharp, according to personal taste, and chopped or pureed pimentos and sometimes, canned or freshly roasted red peppers instead.

Add a little pure mayonnaise, or depending on where you grew up in the South, even Miracle Whip salad dressing (but never at my house growing up). Traditionally, that'll be served up on white bread too - Bunny bread being our personal preference. That's about it, although there is many a Southern cook who is determined that she or he has that one secret ingredient they don't want to reveal to anybody.