Linda Marrone: Kay's almost pimento cheese spread (recipe)

As I’m writing this on Sunday, we’ve had a glorious snow overnight and it’s still coming down. Ralph is out shoveling for the second time. I’ve got raspberry vinegar on the stove reducing and getting ready to put in bottles to give away as soon as my sister can come down and do some labels for me. I made chai tea earlier and having a cup now and some for later. Playing Christmas music and thinking about what days I’m going to make Alice’s Swedish Cardamon Bread and my favorite stollen bites. I need to pace the baking out now or it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

You slow down as you age but I still have some favorite December activities. My friend Karen Gasper and I have been going to the Holiday Bazaars at the Episcopal and Methodist churches forever it seems and then we head down to Due Sorella and the Greenhouse Garden Center.

If you’ve never been to the Silver & Snowflakes tree lighting at the Capitol, you are missing out and the Empty Bowls soup dinner and fundraiser for FISH either before or after. All these functions have past but be sure and mark them on your 2023 calendar for next year.

One of my new favorites is Debbie Barham’s cookie party and I’m fortunate to be a judge so all the fun and none of the pressure of baking 13 dozen cookies and showcasing them in a fabulous container. There are some serious bakers and crafters that attend this party that’s been going on for 21 years.

I’ve always given homemade gifts for Christmas and pretty much throughout the year, cookies, jams, spaghetti and Peach barbecue sauce, vinegars, potpourri, and my lavender sachets. We also receive some tasty treats as well.

This year my friend Kay Armstrong gave us a jar of pimento spread and I’m going to make up a batch of my own. The recipe called for 1 small jar of pimentos, but she subbed a roasted red bell for the pimento and the flavor really stands out. She did not have enough of the cheddar cheese, so she threw in some pepper jack, and it has just a little bit of a kick. I’ll give you the recipe and you fix it however works best for you.

This month is a good time for reflection and spreading good will. We can all be on our best behavior not that anyone is looking over our shoulder but because it’s the right thing to do. Try and have a little more patience, understanding and empathy. Let’s all be more giving because you really do reap what you sow. Think kindness and pass it on.

“Perhaps the best yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles.” Anonymous

Ingredients

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated (not pre-grated)

1/4 cup cream cheese, room temp

3 tablespoons mayo

1 jar pimento, drainer or 1 small roasted red bell pepper, both chopped fine

Dash of red pepper flakes and salt and pepper

Directions

Blend first 3 ingredients and stir in rest, put in small jars, and refrigerate.