Hey, y’all! Our family was excited to take our second trip to coastal South Carolina last week, and it was SUCH a dream. I don’t know why, but I’m obsessed with Spanish moss. I think it’s haunting/romantic/creepy all at the same time. My kids and husband never missed an opportunity to poke fun at me about this, but I can’t help it. It makes me swoon.

Nobody does food like the South. Here’s a recipe for homemade pimento cheese, which is great on crackers (whee!), veggies (yawn), and burgers (hubba hubba!). Scott ordered a fascinating creation called a Lowcountry Burger one day, and I didn’t know that I needed pimento cheese on my burgers from now on. I recreated the Lowcountry Burger at home, and I hope you try it soon. This pimento cheese is key, and so versatile. I don’t think we appreciate it enough up here!

You will need:

• 8 oz room-temperature cream cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup pimentos
• 1 tsp grated garlic
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Stir the cream cheese, mayo, pimento, garlic, and salt and pepper in a medium bowl. When reasonably combined (I leave a few small chunks of cream cheese, it doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth) add the grated cheddar. Mix until incorporated. Store in a jar in the fridge. It makes about three cups, so spread the love with someone you love, if you know what I’m saying 😉 My in-laws happen to love pimento cheese, and this recipe makes enough to share.

Spread it on crackers, use it as a luscious sandwich/burger upgrade, or serve it with fried green tomatoes if you’re feeling super-Southern!