A Southern Grace: the south shall rise again!

May 1, 2011

the south shall rise again!

Yum



You've no doubt seen pictures of the wreckage caused by tornadoes in the South on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.


They tore right through my neck of the woods, leaving the land and structures owned by my stepdad in terrible shape. "Devastating" was the word used by my mom to describe the effect of the tornadoes, and she was understating it. Don't worry--all my humans and pets are fine, but it'll take awhile to get everything sorted out, that's for sure.

In an effort to boost the spirit and morale of my fellow Southerners, I hereby trot out the one and only pimento cheese sandwich. This is a taste sensation that originated in the South and is something every person should try at some point in his or her life.

It is, I believe, the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich--a salty, spicy, and ooey-gooey blend spread between two pieces of crispy, buttery toast. It's happiness in sandwich-form.

Don't forget about my MAVEA giveaway, and more importantly, count your blessings and pray on!

Tornado-Proof Pimenter Cheese Sandwich
1 (3-oz) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup grated pepper jack cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup pimentos, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
black pepper and cayenne, to taste

Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Add all of the remaining ingredients and mix with a spatula until well blended.  Eat. My method of choice: Slather the cheese on a slice of toasted, buttery bread, then pop it under the broiler for a minute to melt the cheese and make it warm. Top it with another slice of toasted, buttery bread and consume.

61 comments:

Lisa-Marie said...

Grace, I'm sorry to hear about your family's land, that is awful. Glad, at the same time, to here you are all safe.

This cheese on toast looks EPIC. I must try it!

A Plum By Any Other Name said...

Oh dear. So glad to hear everyone is okay. I admire your reliance on a tried-and-true classic to help everyone over the hump. Pimento cheese sandwiches do have a mythical quality to them.

What's that quote again? Oh yes, keep calm and carry tornado proof sandwiches.

Best wishes Grace!

Joanne said...

I'm so glad to hear you guys are okay! And I know that you, and the rest of the south, will rise again! Especially with pimiento cheese to fuel you!

vanillasugarblog said...

oh gracie that is awful, i'm sorry honey. but glad that everyone is ok.
and i'm with you i love a good pimento cheese sammich or burger or dip or....
remember those burgers i did with the pimento cheese? oh heavens.

Faith said...

Grace, I'm sorry to hear about your stepdad's land...but I'm so happy that you and your family are ok!

It doesn't get any better than pimento cheese and I love the looks of this sandwich!

Heather said...

I am so sorry, I am also so glad that everyone is okay.

Kathy Walker said...

Sorry to hear of the devastation. Glad that you are safe. I have never heard of a cheese and pimento sandwich....something new to try.

Alicia Foodycat said...

Really glad the people and pets are OK - everything else you can ultimately do without.

I've been reading about pimento cheese for so many years and I have never tried it. this recipe is pushing me over the edge!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

I'm sorry to hear about that! Thankfully everybody is doing well.

That sandwich is just terrific!

Cheers,

Rosa

DessertForTwo said...

So sorry to hear about your loss :(

Glad you're still cooking :)

Mel said...

If only a pimiento cheese sandwich could solve all the devastation due to the wreckage! It can't hurt, right? It looks fantastically delicious in all its cheesy goodness. I'm glad your friends/family/pets are fine but I really do hope they can all recover quickly and well from the onslaught.

MaryBeth said...

Grace,
So sorry to hear about your family and of course all of the families that have been hit by this horrible storm. The sammie on the other hand looks fabulous and would pick up anyone's spirit, if even for a single moment.

Julie said...

So glad all your peeps are safe! What a huge mess it has been all over the south. Hoping all this crazy weather ends soon!

Jennifer said...

I am so glad all your family and pets are safe, I watched it on the news and it was so scary! I had no idea you could make Pimento Cheese, LOL I thought it came in a little jar! I do love it tho!

Robin said...

Happy to hear your family is safe Grace. So sorry about your stepdad's land, hopefully the cleaning up will go smoothly for them. Will send some prayers their way.

Sarah said...

That is so sad. I hope things get better soon. Didn't know this was a Southern sandwich.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry about your family's land but glad that everyone is safe though. The sandwich sounds wonderful for sure.

Natalya (Deliciously Suite) said...

Glad to hear everyone is safe. That's the most important thing.

It's a scientific fact that cheese in large quantities makes everything immensely better. This looks delicious, cheese can do no wrong in my book.

Kate at Serendipity said...

Grace, I thought about you and wondered if you had any damage. I'm glad that you and yours are safe. I know what kind of devastation tornadoes can cause.

This is my favorite sandwich. Nowadays I'm making it with rye bread 'cause I can't eat wheat. The good rye we get in neighboring Germany adds another layer of flavor to this sammich. My favorite! YUM!

The Blonde Duck said...

I've been craving pimento cheese all weekend. This isn't helping.

Barbara said...

Oh Grace, I'm so sorry for your family, but relieved everyone is all right. The people of the south always work hard and together through adversity...it will be the same here.

Been eating pimento sandwiches for ages....had my first in Savannah. There are just some recipes that have "south" written all over them, this is one. I've never put basil in one though.

Lucie said...

Glad to hear the people around you are okay, even though I can imagine how much distress everyone must be in. Finding comfort in food is one of the great things in life, and a pimento sandwich is perfect for that!

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

Sorry about that loss of land but much happier about the safety of your family.

Lindsey said...

I'm sorry to hear about all the damage done down there, but I'm sure glad that you and your humans/animals are safe!

Lori said...

My brother and Sister In Law need a new roof, car and siding. They are in E Tenn. Mild compared to the other devastation. My regards to your family Grace! A very terrible situation.

Mini Baker said...

I'm so sorry to hear your news, but thank goodness everyone is ok!
xo,
Mini Baker

Leslie said...

I am glad everyone is safe!!!

Lyndas recipe box said...

I'm glad your family and pets are safe and sound Grace, but I know that clean up can take awhile. So many people have been affected.

As for your pimento cheese, I must say that I've never had any that looked as good as yours!

Juliana said...

Sorry to hear about the devastation, but happy that you are all safe. The sandwich looks yummie with all the cheeses in it...so tasty with the pimento cheese. Hope you have a better week Grace :-)

chopinandmysaucepan said...

Your pics always make the food look so good especially melting cheese!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

I'm glad to hear your mama and pets are ok! Geez it's such a terrible time around the world over these past few years :(

Marjie said...

I'm glad you found a sandwich that would make it through the destruction. Wishing your family a speedy insurance settlement and happy rebuilding.

kat said...

I'm glad all your humans & animals are ok but what an awful storm! Cream cheese is what brings that sandwich over the top

shaz said...

Sorry to hear about the destruction Grace. Not sure I've ever had pimento before.

Katerina said...

I've heard of the tornados at the news. i am glad all your family is fine. Material damage is something that can be done again hardly but it can be done. Human lives are irreplaceable. Great looking sandwich!

The Teacher Cooks said...

Pimento Cheese is one of my favorite spreads for sandwiches! This one is quite different. I like the addition of basil and cream cheese for additional flavor. I'm glad that your family is safe.

Pam said...

I am so glad to hear your family/pets are all safe. The pimento cheese sandwich looks and sounds tasty - I've never had one before.

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I'm glad to hear everyone is safe. Delicious sandwich.

sweetlife said...

sorry for your loss, glad to hear everyone is okay..we love pimento cheese

sweetlife

Deborah said...

I'm so glad everyone is safe - that is what really matters.

I just made pimento cheese sandwiches a few nights ago!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for bringing the storms to light for those around the country. We're struggling here in Alabama and can use all the help we can get. Glad your family is safe.

Ashleigh

Angie's Recipes said...

Grace, I am really glad to hear that you and your family are SAFE. That's the most important!
Sandwich looks really satisfying.

pam said...

Great minds...I went out this past Sunday and had a cheese burger with pimento cheese. Nothing like pimento cheese to help make things better.

Half Baked said...

So glad your family is ok! So many lost so much. It been great to see the people in my area pull together and help each other out. the South will rise again!

Maris (In Good Taste) said...

Most important your family is all ok. I am so sorry for their trouble.

Carolyn Jung said...

The images on the TV news were just so unbelievable and frightening. Comfort food is definitely what you turn to in times like these.

Heidi - Apples Under My Bed said...

Oh dear, how scary! Thinking of you all!
Heidi xo
p.s. yummy sandwich...

Hungry Dog said...

Grace-glad your family (humans & pets) are all safe but sorry they had to endure this. Sending good thoughts their way. IN the meantime, can someone make me one of these sandwiches?

lisa is cooking said...

I just chose a pimento cheese sandwich for lunch a couple of days ago. Kurt asked me 'what is that?' He's lived in the south for as long as I have, so I don't know how he's missed out on this amazing sandwich. The basil in your sounds great.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This is certainly calm in the storm Grace. We have seen a small part of the devestation on the news and hope that all will be right in your neck of the woods soon.

Nutmeg Nanny said...

I'm glad to hear you are ok, but I'm sorry to hear about your families buildings being ruined. Hoping the best for you and your family :)

The sandwich sounds great. I'm a big fan of pimento.

Gloria Baker said...

Grace glad to hear all of you are safe and OK.

Thats is the important.
TRhis sandwich look yummy, gloria

pigpigscorner said...

Take care!

marla said...

Oh, I am sorry to hear you are going through so much tornado stress. Sounds like these sammies are putting well deserved smiles on your faces. Hopefully all can get back to normal soon! xo

Ryan said...

Stay strong and keep your head up. I am happy to hear that you are okay. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe.

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

I'm so glad all the people/pets you love are okay. The people affected will be in my thoughts. The sandwich looks yummy of course.

Kerstin said...

Oh no, my thoughts are with you and I hope you sort everything out quickly.

I've never had pimento cheese, but it's becoming quite the food trend - I need to check it out!

~~louise~~ said...

Oh Grace, I'm so sorry to hear of this devastation. Thankfully, all lives have been spared.

Thank you so much for sharing this recipe...

Chef Fresco said...

I hate to hear that about your stepdad's property! Thank goodness everyone is okay. These weather disasters we've been having truly are devastating..

On a lighter note, this is the best looking pimento sammie I've ever seen!

kimberleyblue said...

I have never heard of such a sandwich, and I am definitely missing out on something, I'm sure of that. I thought at first it was scrambled eggs...but this sounds much better.

I'm also so sorry to hear that you were affected. I'm happy everyone close to you is safe.

Nic said...

Saw the devastation on the news, so sorry for everyone there. Glad your family is all ok. xx