Miss Mattie’s Southern Pimiento Cheese gets its sweet and spicy taste from sweet-hot pickled jalapeno peppers. The toasted pecans add to its Southern flair.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 (7-oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped jarred sweet-hot pickled Jalapeño pepper slices
• 1 tablespoon liquid from sweet-hot pickled jalapeno pepper slices
• 4 cups freshly grated mild Cheddar cheese (1 lb.)
• Garnishes: sweet-hot pickled Jalapeño pepper slices, toasted chopped pecans

Preparation

1. Bake 1/2 cup chopped pecans at 350° in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool 20 minutes.
2. Stir together mayonnaise, diced pimiento, pickled Jalapeño pepper slices, liquid from sweet-hot pickled jalapeño pepper slices, and toasted pecans.
3. Stir in Cheddar cheese until well blended. Garnish, if desired.