Falling leaves and pimento cheese

Today was sunny, cold and blustery. A carpet of red Japanese maple leaves cover the ground right outside our front door.  They are absolutely stunning. I ventured out this afternoon and did a few chores, closing up the outside vents to our basement, bringing in some containers and replacing some of our clear globe lights that hang in the trees. Tomorrow is predicted to be a frigid day with temperatures only reaching into the high 30s. 

We've been blowing the leaves into the borders every week but this is a futile job and you can't hardly tell anything has been done the following day. However, we would be buried in leaves if we didn't do it.

Where does the pimento cheese in the title come in? Well, after doing our weekly Saturday morning chores, Michael and I spent quite some time in the kitchen. He made us delicious vegetable soup and I made him another batch of pimento cheese. I've never seen a person who likes pimento cheese as much as that boy does! It is quite good, if I may say so myself. Very easy to make and it sure beats store-bought. I give you the recipe below.
 
And, if you read my baking blog, you will remember that I started making my first ever fruitcake last week. Today the fruits had basked in a mixture of Grand Mariner and brandy for one week and it was time to bake the cake. It bakes for 5 hours! It is nearing the completion time and I will then let it cool and brush with more liquor. Then it will sit for weeks and weeks before it is served. I'm curious to see how this turns out. Stay tuned.

Pimento Cheese

Ingredients:
2 cups extra-sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. onion powder
4 oz. diced pimento
Few dashes of Tabasco
Salt and pepper

Place all ingredients in a mixer bowl. Beat until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate in a covered container before serving. 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy