Every variation you need on a classic pimento cheese recipe

Our video series "Dine & Wine" showcases different recipes and cocktail mixes using Duplin Winery wines and gourmet products. Join our host, Frank, as he gets the dish on our Duplin family's favorite eats and drinks. If you have ideas for the show or if you're looking for a recipe, let us know in the comments. Cheers!

Pimento cheese seems to be everywhere these days, and we understand why it's ending up on biscuits, burgers, fried green tomatoes and fried chicken sandwiches. Some people even deep-fry it, and that's fine with us because who doesn't love a riff on pimento cheese.

Lately, we're liking the smokiness of Duplin Gourmet's Muscadine Smokehouse Grilling Sauce in our pimento cheese dip. Some of us have been talking about spreading that pimento cheese it on our next grilled rib-eye. Yes, we are those people and proud of it.

Around the holiday season, we're thinking of adding Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Pepper Jelly to a firm pimento cheese we can shape in a cheese ball and coat in chopped toasted pecans and dried cranberries.

Frank, host of our video food series "Dine & Wine" doesn't just doctor up his pimento cheese with Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Carolina Mustard Barbecue Sauce, which adds tang, depth and hint of sweetness, he also has a few tricks for making this easy cheese spread recipe even easier.

Frank looks for the sharpest pre-shredded cheddar cheese he can find so that he doesn't have to grate his own. Only a sharp cheese to stand up to the richness of mayonnaise that binds pimento cheese. Frank also uses a hand-mixer to blend pimento cheese with all the spices and extras he likes to add. 

Frank's version also includes cream cheese. His is a hearty spread that needs a sturdy cracker, and we make those crackers in our Duplin Gourmet kitchen in Rose Hill just about every day. They go that quickly.

What wine should you pair with pimento cheese? If you go heavy on hot peppers, spicy pepper sauce, Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Pepper Jelly or lots of spicy mustard, go with a sweeter, fruiter wine such as Hatteras Red or Sunset Red. If your pimento cheese is all about the sharp cheeses, lean soft dry such as Duplin Carlos or Burgundy. 

Pepper Jelly Pimento Cheese Ball

INGREDIENTS

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, at room temperature

3 cups sharp cheddar cheese

2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/3 cup Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Pepper Jelly

1 7-ounce jar chopped pimentos, well drained

1 cup chopped pecans

Duplin Gourmet Crackers

DIRECTIONS

1. Place cream cheese, cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, the crushed garlic and the pepper jelly in a large bowl. Stir ingredients until well blended. Add more mayonnaise if mixture seems to thick.
2. Gently fold in chopped pimentos.
3. Cover bowl and place cheese mixture in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.
4. Spread chopped pecans on a large baking sheet.
5. Remove cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Using your hands or a large spatula, gather mixture together until it forms a ball. Roll the cheese ball in the chopped pecans until the cheese ball is coated all around.
6. Wrap cheese ball and refrigerate until firm.
7. Remove cheese ball from refrigerator 20 minutes before serving. Serve with Duplin Gourmet Crackers.
8. Makes 12-18 servings.