Pimento Cheese

My friend Gin­ny makes the most amaz­ing home­made pimen­to cheese spread.
To receive some is to find love on a crack­er and know you’re cared for.

Del­i­cate­ly smeared atop crust­less slices of bread,
her pimen­to cheese fin­ger-sand­wich­es are invit­ed to tea par­ties, bap­tismal lunch­es, wed­dings, and funer­al receptions.

There’s some­thing mag­i­cal about home­made food.
It feeds your body and soul.

I’ve got my fin­gers crossed that the open floor plans,
so pop­u­lar in new hous­es and apart­ments, will encour­age us to cook again.

The fam­i­ly gath­ered around the hearth for warmth, food, and fellowship
when our ances­tors lived in caves and one-room cabins.

With the kitchen as the star of the open floor plan.
I hope we come togeth­er again, to share in the mag­ic of home­made meat­loaf or warm cook­ies fresh from the oven.

My culi­nary edu­ca­tion came from my grandmother.
She tend­ed a gar­den until the har­vest came, then canned jar after jar to make it through the win­ter. The only fast food she ever ate came from the glass jars lined up on a shelf in her pantry.

The left­overs in Grandmom’s kitchen were the begin­nings of anoth­er meal. 
She was a bride of the Great Depres­sion, whose mot­to was “waste not, want not.” Cook­ing for oth­ers was her love language.

Maybe tonight’s the night to show your­self some love with a home­cooked meal.
Bet­ter yet, make enough to share! When you hand some­one a home­made Pimen­to cheese sand­wich or a still-warm cook­ie they’ll know they are cared for.