Canned Pimentos Food

CANNED PIMENTOS

Steps:

• Cut peppers lengthwise in strips.
• Cover with boiling water for 5 minutes; drain.
• Bring vinegar, water and sugar to a boil in a non-aluminum pan.
• Simmer 5 minutes.
• In each 1/2 pint jar, put 1 clove garlic, 1/2 tsp oil, 1/4 tsp salt, fill with peppers and pour hot syrup over, leaving the appropriate head space.
• Process 25 minutes at 11 pounds pressure.

CANNED ROASTED PEPPERS OR PIMENTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 F.
• Place whole peppers on an ungreased baking sheet and place in moderately hot oven for 8 to 10 min.
• or until skin blisters and browns.
• Remove from oven and place clean tea towel over peppers until completely cooled.
• Halve peppers and remove skins, stem and seeds.I use the tea towel to "scrub" off the skins.
• Flatten peppers and pack in hot clean pint jars.
• Add scant 1/2 tsp.
• canning salt to each jar.
• No additional liquid is neeed.
• Adjust lids and process according to your pressure cooker directions for 10 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure.

SPICY PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, onion, garlic, celery seed, and 1/2 teaspoon salt with a wooden spoon. Add the jalapeños, scallions, red peppers, Cheddar, and Sriracha and combine well. Taste for seasonings and serve with crackers, corn chips, and/or crudités.

PIMENTOS (PICKLED PEPPERS)

Steps:

• Clean the peppers (including the jalepenos) of all the seeds and white stuff.
• Cut the bell peppers into strips about 1" wide and 2" long.
• Slice the jalepenos in 1/2" slices across.
• Boil the bell peppers in water for about 5 minutes.
• Mix the oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and water in a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, and boil about 5 minutes.
• In the meantime, put drained sweet peppers, chopped garlic, and jalepenos in a sterilized glass jar (or two, depending on size!) Pour the vinegar/sugar mix over.
• Seal.
• Let sit in refrigerator at least two weeks before serving.
• This keeps well 4-6 weeks in fridge.
• Can be frozen though there is some deterioration of texture.

PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• 1. Use a meat grinder or the coarse side of a box grater to grate the cheese; for a grinder, use the cutter with large holes. Put the ground or grated cheese in a mixing bowl and add half the juice from the canned pimentos. Dice the pimentos and add them. Add the chopped scallions.
• 2. Combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and garlic. Add this to the cheese mixture. Add the Worcestershire, Tabasco, and black pepper and blend well; taste and adjust the seasoning.
• 3. Serve at room temperature as a spread for crisp crackers and raw vegetables or use as a sandwich spread. (Pimento cheese can be tightly sealed and kept for several days in the refrigerator.).
• Notes: I learned to make pimento cheese from a southern friend's mom. She doesn't use Worcestershire or garlic but I think they sound like great additions. I think I'll add this to next weekend's football food! I made it a day ahead of time and I think it tastes even better with a little time to rest before serving.