Pimento Cheese

This recipe came from a local restaurant that has since closed. You can use jarred pimentos or make your own.

Ingredients

Directions

Add mayonnaise and lemon juice to a mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Add grated cheese and pimentos and mix until ingredients are distributed. This stuff benefits greatly from being prepared in advance and overnighting in the fridge. Serve any dang way you want… just make sure you’re on good terms with your room mate if you choose “finger in bowl, finger to mouth” as your serving method.

Making your own Pimentos:
Pimentos are just roasted red peppers. If you want to make your own, just roast quartered red peppers in the oven (375° or so), skin side up, until the skin chars a little. Take them out of the oven and throw into a plastic baggie. After the bag steams up and sits for a minute, the skins will slide right off. Then just dice ‘em up.

Mini Chicken Wontons

A Gene Tart favorite.

Ingredients

Directions

Place chicken in a single layer in a saucepan, add water to cover and simmer about 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Chop or shred. Mix in dressing, salt and pepper . Set aside.

Combine cheese with chili powder and paprika.

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray. Press one won ton wrapper in each muffin tin cup. Bake until lightly browned—just a few minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

Spoon a generous amount of chicken filling into each wonton. Sprinkle with cheese and green pepper. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve with salsa or sour cream. Makes 24.

Bourbon Balls

A holiday must. Alice Coffey turned us on to these gems in Manteo, 1981. This is an excellent after dinner offering or gift idea.

Ingredients

Directions

Gently melt chocolate in a double boiler over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in syrup and bourbon; cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix wafers, nuts, and confectioners sugar. Add the chocolate mixture and stir to blend.  Let stand 30 minutes. Shape into 1 inch balls with your fingers. Roll in sugar then refrigerate, covered, until ready to pack for munching or gift giving.

Wrap and Roll Pinwheels

These are an old party stand-by for us. Easy to make and different enough to garner a few ooo’s and ah’s.

Ingredients

Directions

Spread each tortilla with 1/3 of Boursin cheese. Add a layer of fresh basil leaves to cover cheese. Divide red pepper strips, spacing 1 to 2 inches apart to cover basil. Top with meat slices.  Spread with 1 tsp mayo.

Roll up tortillas tightly-jelly roll style. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap. Chill rolls in refrigerator 2 to 4 hours.

To serve, unwrap rolls from plastic. Cut each roll into 1 inch slices. Skewer on frilly picks or just plate. Makes about 24.

White Chocolate Popcorn

This recipe comes to us from our St. Louis Cardinals fan, Mrs. Elizabeth Steiner Kullmann. It’s easy to make and has become a favorite of several of our friends.

Ingredients

Directions

Pop popcorn. Empty into large bowl.

Melt chocolate in microwave, according to brand instructions.

Pour melted chocolate over popcorn. Mix well. Store tightly covered.