It’s hard to imagine improving on the Southern standby of pimento cheese. It has all the elements of a irresistible appetizer: creamy and cheesy, with just a little kick of heat. Put it out at a party, and you’ll quickly find your guests clustered around the dip bowl. Frustrated by the immovable snack swarm? Take a page from JBF Award winner Ashley Christensen, and add some portability. Christensen served these adorable hand pies at her recent Beard House dinner, stuffing the spread into a buttery dough and sealing it up into a petite package that packs a powerful punch of flavor when baked. With these pies in your guests’ hands, canapé-crowding fears will be a thing of the past. Get the recipe.
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Maggie Borden is associate editor at the James Beard Foundation. Find her on Instagram and Twitter.
