Simple Sandwich Spreads: Pimento Cheese and Olive Cream Cheese
A few times a year I get an intense craving for pimento cheese. Not lame pimento cheese: it has to be fresh, spicy, homemade pimento cheese. And not served in just any way: it has to be piled onto a slice of plain white bread, folded over and served with a Coke.
A few years ago I shared this craving on Facebook and Edward, the dad of the two kids I babysat in college, chimed in and told me I had to try Olive Cream Cheese sandwiches, a childhood favorite of his. It sounded wonderful to me: briny olives in cream cheese on white bread. I resolved to give it a try but then promptly forgot all about it.
A week ago, when I found out Edward had passed away after a short battle with cancer, I was flooded with memories of my time with his sweet family. Swimming around in my mind, too, was the memory of the Olive Cream Cheese sandwich. I don’t know why that forgotten sandwich, of all things, popped into my head. It seems like such a small thing, but I guess in a way it represented the time running out of the hourglass before anyone was ready.
Edward always had a fantastic sense of humor (in fact, his family is wearing Hawaiian shirts to his celebration of life today). That’s why, even though it may seem silly, I decided he would appreciate if my memorial to him was eating and sharing an Olive Cream Cheese sandwich. It was just as delicious as I imagined it would be; I only regret that I can’t tell him how much I enjoyed it.
Below, I share both recipes for quick and easy sandwich spreads: my amazing hot pimento cheese and Edward’s delicious Olive Cream Cheese spread. Enjoy them on some plain ol’ white bread for an easy, nostalgic meal.
One year ago: Buttery Almond Stuffed Morning Buns
Two years ago: Boozy Icebox Cake
Three years ago: Milnot Cheesecake Cheesecake
Four years ago: Lemon Berry Crumble Breakup Bars
Five years ago: Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread Pudding
- 3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 cups grated extra sharp cheddar
- 1/2 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- 1 medium jalapeño, chopped finely with seeds removed
- 1/4 teaspoon McCormick’s roasted garlic salt (or regular garlic salt if you can’t find it)
- pinch of ground pepper and extra salt to taste
- 3 tablespoons pimentos, smashed
- In a food processor: Mix the cream cheese until fluffy. Add 2 cups of the cheese, mayonnaise, jalapeño, garlic salt, pepper, and smashed pimentos and mix until combined. Remove the pimento cheese to a medium bowl and fold in the last 1 cup of shredded cheese. Cover and chill in the fridge overnight before serving (if you're patient enough!)
- By hand: Beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in the mayonnaise, jalapeño, garlic salt, and pepper and beat until combined. Fold in the cheese and smashed pimentos until well combined. Cover and chill in the fridge overnight before serving (if you're patient enough!)
- 5 ounces cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons sliced Spanish olives, plus some extra for topping
- Beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Fold in the olives until well combined. If you're patient enough, chill overnight. Serve on sliced white bread with a few extra sliced olives on top.
Arlene Mobley
January 9, 2015 at 6:06 pm (10 years ago)I love both these recipes and can’t wait to try the pimiento cheese recipe. I have been looking for one.
I love olives with cream cheese. My mom would spread it on a celery stick for a fun Thanksgiving appetizer.
Jordan
January 9, 2015 at 7:20 pm (10 years ago)I LOVE pimento cheese! One of my favorite food memories from growing up in the South is pimento cheese sammiches. I made some as an appetizer for Thanksgiving this year.
van p
January 9, 2015 at 7:27 pm (10 years ago)Love pimento cheese! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Julie | This Gal Cooks
January 9, 2015 at 7:49 pm (10 years ago)Aww, I am so sorry to hear about your friend’s passing. It’s great that you have many things to keep him in your memory. 🙂
I love pimento cheese but I’ve never made my own. I love a little kick in my food (ok, sometimes a lot of kick) so I know I would like your pimento cheese! The olive spread sounds pretty good, too!
Katy
January 9, 2015 at 8:37 pm (10 years ago)i loved your story about the little ones you kept in college, and then I loved your recipe for the lemon braid. But you totally won me over when you were talking about pimento cheese sandwiches and serving them with a coke. I like you. You’re funny.
Christina Mendoza
January 10, 2015 at 1:06 am (10 years ago)My grandmother always added walnuts to the olive and cream cheese sandwich, to boost the protein. (And served it on whole wheat bread.)
Sharon
January 11, 2015 at 1:00 pm (10 years ago)My very favorite sandwich is cream cheese and olives! I have memories of it from the late 40s traveling back and forth between Washington DC and Maine with my mother…the train had a steward who came through selling sandwiches of cream cheese and olives and other things..it started a life long love affair with the concoction.
Here’s to Edward and his sandwich choice and I’m sure he would be honored with your remembrance today!
Sheri
January 12, 2015 at 12:14 pm (10 years ago)My mum loved cream cheese and olive sandwiches and so did I – was great with a hot cup of tea. Grew up in New England and always ate it on rye or pumpernickel bread. Will have to try the pimento cheese recipe.
Deirdre Reid @ Grabbing the Gusto
January 13, 2015 at 10:53 pm (10 years ago)That was the nicest thing I read all day–and I’ve read a lot today.
I love pimento cheese. The next time I have a hankering, I’ll give yours a try.
Yum Girl
February 15, 2015 at 9:44 pm (10 years ago)As one of the new co owners of Yum Goggle, I am thrilled you submitted these recipes and as a home cook, I am giddy with joy to have found the recipe for Olive Cheese – at least that’s what we’ve always called it. They quit making it in those little glass jars and our holiday cheese ball hasn’t been the same since………….now it will be just like it used to be. Please keep submitting to YG!