peggy's holiday cheese dip
My mom made this for the cocktail parties they hosted in the 1960s when we were stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. I loved it so much, she would make some up for me when I was a kid and they would go out. I would grab the chips, my dachshund Bazi, and camp out in front of the Friday night monster-picture marathon on TV. She made it for all the holidays, summer picnics, and later for the game parties during football season. Great with Ruffles, Fritos or my favorite, Cool Ranch Doritos. Friends that try it either love it or hate it; no in-between. But do try it - Peggy loved everybody!
Blue Ribbon Recipe
If a generation had a dip to represent it, this easy appetizer would be the 1970s. At the time, all these ingredients were staples in the kitchen. One bite of this, and we felt like we should be sitting around a table playing bridge. Pimento spread has a processed cheese flavor similar to Velveeta. There's a subtle flavor from the deviled ham. We think Mike's right... you're going to love this dip or hate it. It sort of reminded us of eating a cheese dip that's been mixed with Vienna sausages. We tasted it with chips, but it would be great served with crackers too. Also, we definitely preferred his cheese dip after it chilled for an hour.
Ingredients For peggy's holiday cheese dip
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4 jarKraft pimento spread (5 ounces each) (This can sometimes be tricky to find. If your grocer doesn't carry this specific brand or flavor, ask them to get some in for you or try a different store)
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1 canUnderwood deviled ham spread (4.25 ounces)
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2-3 Tbspmayonnaise (your choice, we always used Hellman's)
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3-4 dashLea & Perrin's Worcestershire sauce
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1-2 dashTabasco sauce (optional, but recommended)
How To Make peggy's holiday cheese dip
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1Empty the jars of pimento cheese spread into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Use a slim spatula or spreading knife to get it all from the sides and bottom. -
2Add the deviled ham and turn loosely with a fork to get the ham blended evenly with the cheese.
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3Add the mayonnaise. You may want to experiment with the amount. Less mayo makes the dip sharper with a stiffer consistency; more will make it creamier with a looser consistency. I've had my best results with 2 heaping tablespoons as I like it a bit sharper in flavor.
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4Add the Worcestershire. There's no precise measurement here, 3 or 4 shakes of a Lea & Perrins bottle probably yields about a teaspoon or so.
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5We always like to add just a dash of Tabasco, although this step is entirely optional. To be honest, I saw mom add the Tabasco one day when I was about 15, to which I protested and asked her just to make it "the usual way". She confessed she had always added it, even when I was a child; she just never let me see her do it. So, you don't need much. A little goes a long way, just enough to add a little kick is nice.
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6Blend well. You can use a fork, but I like to use a hand-mixer. The deviled ham is a bit hard to blend in without it. Mix for 2 or 3 minutes.
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7Also optional: I always chill in the fridge for an hour or so. Serve and enjoy!
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