Benedictine & Bacon and Pimento Cheese Spreads from RMHC Kentuckiana

When summer hits I start thinking picnic and what is a picnic in the south without SPREADS! Traditional Pimento cheese (The caviar of the south) or the Louisville local favorite Benedictine! Whenever my family does picnics these are our go to items.

Benedictine is a cucumber cream cheese dip that was invented right here in Louisville in the late 18th century. My twist on the Benedictine is the addition of bacon and the omission of the traditional green food dye . Used as a dip for fresh veggies or made up for our help-yourself-cooler for our families to grab-and-go. We look forward to keeping it fresh and cool for summer this year in Louisville. – Chef James, RMHC Kentuckiana

Benedictine and Bacon Spread

Ingredients:

  • 1 large English cucumber

  • 1 lb cream cheese

  • ½ small white onion

  • 1 lemon

  • t.t. Hot sauce, Crystal or tabasco

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1 tsp sugar

  • 1 cup pre-cooked bacon bits or 4 oz cooked bacon chopped fine.

 

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl grate ¾ of English cucumber and the ½ of a small white onion

  2. In the same bowl zest the lemon and juice careful to not add the seeds

  3. Add salt and hot sauce and reserve chilled.

  4. In mixer add cream cheese and sugar and paddle on low speed until cream cheese starts to walk up the side of the bowl, scrape down well and mix a further minute.

  5. Add rest of ingredients and mix well two minutes on low speed.

  6. Scrape bowl well and increase mixer to med and let paddle for 2 mins.

  7. Chill well in non-reactive bowl before serving overnight if possible.

 

 

Pimento Cheese Spread

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs shredded sharp cheddar ( any cheese can work here)

  • 2 oz canned diced pimentos

  • 4 oz mayonnaise

  • 1 oz mustard ( Dijon is best)

  • 1 tsp minced garlic

  • 1 tbsp worchestershire sauce

  • 8 oz cream cheese

  • Salt to taste

 

Directions:

  1. In mixing bowl fitted with paddle combine all ingredients but the cream cheese and mix on low, 3 mins

  2. Scrape bowl well and add cream cheese mixing again on low for 2 mins and on med for an additional 2 mins or until combined