the south shall rise again!

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.