Pimento Cheese Sandwiches: A Childhood Favorite

There are some foods that remind us of home and our childhood. These comfort foods can be anything from a pot roast to a cookie. 

Being in the food business, I always talk food with everyone I meet, and a favorite comfort food that is mentioned time and again is the pimento cheese sandwich on soft white bread.

Don’t make the mistake of putting this on any of the healthy whole grain breads. This is a sandwich that cries out for the softness of those bad-for-us, vitamin-deficient white breads.

Comfort foods need to be recreated as close to the way we remember them as possible. To stray too far from the original takes away much of that “comfort” factor.

I’ve always had a fondness for pimento cheese. It was a staple in my school lunch box. Try this recipe and I think you’ll agree that sometimes we just need to treat ourselves to a little comfort.

Pimento Cheese Sandwiches

2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated

½ cup mayonnaise (use a good brand like Hellmann’s — it really does taste better)

3 tablespoons pimentos, drained well and chopped

2 tablespoons grated onion

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1.  Mix all ingredients together. Allow to sit for about 30 minutes for the flavors to develop. Spread on white bread. Will keep in the  refrigerator for up to a week, but I’ll bet it’s gone long before!

Chef’s Tips: Try this on crackers or veggies as a dip. Use it to make your cheeseburgers and try it on other meats. Mix a couple of spoonfuls into your biscuit batter. Put it on a slice of bread and broil for a hot open faced sandwich. Use it on your next grilled cheese sandwich. Let your imagination and your taste buds guide you.