That's great...but what's a pimento?

 

James Lee - https://www.flickr.com/photos/jronaldlee/4304893286/

Pimentos are a fun pepper.  Usually known as "that weird red thing you dig out of an olive", they have good flavor and stunning color.  Per Wikipedia, "A pimiento or pimento (or cherry pepper) is a variety of large, red, heart-shaped chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) that measures 3 to 4 in (7 to 10 cm) long and 2 to 3 in (5 to 7 cm) wide (medium, elongate).

Pimientos can have various colours including yellow, green, red, and maroon. Some are green when immature and turn red when they reach maturity.

The flesh of the pimiento is sweet, succulent, and more aromatic than that of the red bell pepper. Some varieties of the pimiento type are hot, including the Floral Gem and Santa Fe Grande varieties. The fruits are typically used fresh or pickled." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimiento).  

What it doesn't tell you is that its inclusion makes a pretty darn good grilled cheese sandwich. Here's what you need:

Ingredients

Pimento Cheese - You can make your own, but the store bought stuff is pretty decent.  One small tub is good for this application unless you are making a lot of sandwiches.  

Mayo - Hear me out.  Using mayo as the crisping agent for your grilled cheese sandwich makes a beautifully crispy and delicious grilled cheese.  It doesn't burn as readily as butter and gives you a lovely background flavor.  However, if you use sandwich spread for this, I will pretend I don't know you.  I find a good name brand works best as the store brands can tend to be pretty greasy. 

Bread - I don't know how you'd pull this off with a lettuce wrap.  Use a good bread if possible. Generic white bread will work, but it's less of an experience.  

Directions

1. Heat your pan to medium heat.  On your bread, spread a thin coat of mayo.  We're not going to drown it.  This is our browning agent.  Get into the corners like you're a hockey defensive lineman chasing down the puck.  Then flip your bread over on the plate.  This is counterintuitive from sandwich making, but trust me on this.  

2. Spread a generous portion of your pimento cheese  on each slice of bread.  You want it thin enough to be melty, but thick enough so you know it's there.  

3. Place in pan with cheese side up.  Your sandwich should give off a sizzle, just like my wife.  Leave in pan like this for a few minutes to give the bread a chance to brown and the cheese begin to melt.  

4. After a couple minutes, using a spatula, flip one half onto the other.  You may need to move the sandwich in the pan to ensure proper browning.  

5. Flip a couple more times to make sure you're getting a good brown on your sandwich and ensuring even melting of the cheese.  

6. Enjoy your sandwich, preferably on a cold day with a good tomato bisque and a cat who regards you suspiciously.