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The Perfect Easter Brunch!




...or Spring luncheon, bridal or baby shower, or afternoon tea (we still have teas in the south). I cooked with my mother to get some of her most requested recipes that should really just be common sense, but for some reason they never turn out quite the same as when she makes them.

Nobody makes pimiento cheese or chicken salad as good as my mother's and after watching her make them, I now realize why. She has a few 'secret' ingredients that I think she might have been holding out on me all of these years. Or maybe I just didn't pay close enough attention or she just 'forgot' to mention these key ingredients that make all of the difference in the world. Anyone that knows my mother, knows that she does not make mistakes often (except that Happy Hanukkah wrapping paper she bought that was on clearance once ...we are clearly not Jewish) , but I digress. Could my dear, sweet Mother have left out a few ingredients on purpose all of this time and now because we are going public it comes out!!! We will never know I guess, but I got the complete recipe for the world to know this time. I am just sort of kidding here, but I really didn't know she put some of the things she does in the chicken salad and the pimiento cheese.

One of the secrets is this:


And the other one is this, but only in the pimento cheese:






Now Miracle Whip is a very southern thing, isn't it? However, I have never liked Miracle Whip. When I was kid, some of my cousins ate bologna and cheese sandwiches slathered with Miracle Whip. They never had mayonnaise, they all ate Miracle Whip. Not me, I only ate mayonnaise and still do. So when I made my mother's pimento cheese or tried to, I used mayonnaise. Guess what? That is why it wasn't as good. That is why I never make it anymore and just get my mother to make it for me. This is one thing you do need the Miracle Whip for instead of mayonnaise. The other secret ingredient is the Worcestershire sauce and she uses a little of that in both. Who would have thought?



Nana's Pimento Cheese


Here is what you will need:



American Cheese grated, Worcestershire sauce, Miracle Whip, pimento and sugar.


Ingredients:

5 cups grated American Cheese
1 cup Miracle Whip
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup chopped pimento

Mix the first 4 ingredients well and stir the pimento in last.





The best pimento cheese ever!



Nana's Pecan Chicken Salad



Here is what you will need:




Chicken breast (you can used canned or cook your own), celery, mayonnaise, grapes, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, pecans, and sugar


Ingredients:

4 cups chicken breast chopped or 2 15oz. cans
1 1/2 cups sliced seedless grapes (red or white)
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs. lemon juice
3/4 cup pecans
1 cup mayonnaise

Mix all ingredients and stir together. This chicken salad is so good with fresh fruit or on croissants as a sandwich.


 


In the next posts, I will give you the recipes for Fabulous Fruit Dip, Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, and Bacon Quiche.


64 comments:

  1. I love pimiento cheese! I make mine with Dukes mayo, and you must add a dash or two of either Tabasco or Louisiana Hot Sauce. Not enough to make it hot, just for the flavor. And yes, I do use Worcestershire too!

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    1. About how I make it. Great Minds! Or rather great appetites!

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    2. I add chopped jalapeno peppers to my pimento cheese....

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  2. I always keep Miracle Whip on hand... it's the only way to make Pimento Cheese!

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  3. I have always used Miracle Whip and use it in my deviled eggs.I always get asked why my eggs are so good and what my 'secret' is

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    1. I use Miracle Whip in my deviled eggs also. Just like my mom's.
      .

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    2. I would love love love to have your deviled egg recipe, especially since you said people always ask what they have in it. I have tried a few different ones but never liking them. thanks, for anonymous Nov 23

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  4. I never eat Mayo, I tried it once on a BLT and HATED it. I threw away the bread and used the tomato and bacon. I fried eggs and toasted new bread.Had bacon, eggs and toast with sliced tomato.

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  5. I made the Pecan Chicken Salad today and it was soooo good. Thanks for another awesome recipe that i can add to my collection. Keep up the good work!

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  6. I made the Chicken Salad for Christmas and we loved it!!! Thank You for sharing your recipe!

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  7. Do you think miracle whip would work in the chicken salad? I hate mayo.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I use Miracle Whip in my recipe that is very similar, cut up a pear along with the grapes.

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    2. I love Miracle Whip as well! Never cared for mayo...I think I will try the chicken salad using Miracle Whip which I always use for potato salads,egg salads, etc.

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    3. I use a TDLS of Dejon mustard in place of Worchestershire and it is great...

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  8. In my chicken salad I use red grapes % red onions.. Only helmans mayo.

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  9. How many servings does the Pecan Chicken Salad make?

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    Replies
    1. You're kidding, right? Duh, add up the cup ingredients.

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    2. Anonymous,
      You aren't too nice at all.
      Remember if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all!
      Enough said.

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    3. I thought it was a perfectly acceptable question. And the salad sounds delicious.. I can't wait to make it myself with mayo or with Miracle Whip either one..... I haven't quite decided yet. I guess we'll know when I make it right? Have a great day.

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  10. Anxious to try BOTH recipes. Thanks for sharing them.

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  11. I'm making this Chicken Salad tomorrow i know it's good,.. Every recipe I've got off here has been fantastic and I've made a lot of them i have not found a bad one yet Thank you for sharing your hood recipes with all of us you are Amazing and you. Deserve a big Thanks

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  12. To your chicken salad, add a little horseradish, to taste. It makes it wonderful!

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  13. I love chicken salad and your chicken salad looks so good. Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful recipes!!!

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    Replies
    1. Add cocnut flakes sweet kind and marine oranges with all ingredient it is do hood

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  14. Feel free to use Miracle Whip if that is what you like or mayonnaise if you prefer that. All of this absolute silliness is amusing to me. I grew up with both. We use Miracle Whip in some things and mostly mayonnaise in others. The idea that Miracle Whip is not southern is just sort of crazy to me. I can guarantee you that Miracle Whip sells like crazy in the south right along with mayonnaise. Use what you like!

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    1. Amen to that! I grew up in Texas and Miracle Whip was the one my mother used on all our stuff..she didn't like mayo, thought it was too bland...I like both now but for different things.

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    2. If youre using chicken breasts for this recipe how do you suggest cooking them?

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    3. I like to bake mine with lots of different spices i.e. basil, tarrygon anything to taste. Always bake with skin on to soak up those spices and keep it moist. Just a matter of taste...Experiment a little and make it yours..

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    4. OR MIX THE MAYO AND MIRACLE WHIP... AND I BET ALMOND SLIVERS WOULD BE GREAT ...

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  15. For those who do not like mayo - are you trying Hellmans or Best? They are the same brand. Its the only mayo to use. xxxo

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    Replies
    1. I only use Bama mayo. It is the BEST mayo!

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  16. Add some grated onion to your pimento cheese (about 1 T) and a dash of garlic powder. It gives just the right amount of kick. AND it's Hellmans all the way!

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    Replies
    1. NO NO NO HELLMANS IN ANY THING

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  17. This chicken is wonderful. I like to add one chopped apple{red delicious}

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  18. I put one can crushed pinapples no sugar no grapes!

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  19. This would also be great if you added sweet onions for the Onion Guys

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  20. Loved the chicken salad recipe. We had it on croissants with raw veggies and fruit. Great, thanks

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  21. I think there are two kinds of people in the world - Mayonnaise and Miracle Whip - LOL - I am a Best Foods (or Hellmans) Mayo person!

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    Replies
    1. I use Kraft's or Hellmans..Really can't taste the difference..

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  22. First time reader. Loved your comments about your mom. ;-) I grew up (same will tell you I never have grown up) with 4 siblings. The oldest only likes Miracle Whip. I, on the other hand, don't care for Miracle whip, except in fruit salad.
    Thank for the recipes.
    ;-)

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  23. I'm a born and raised Yankee displaced in the South for 8 years now. I grew up on Miracle Whip, but now can't stand it (it tastes too sweet) and am in love with Hellman's and Duke's!

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  24. made mine today w/ baked chicken...will let you know :-)

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  25. I made this for a finger food event and put in Filo shells, it was a big hit.

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  26. I only use Helmans mayo and everyone loves my pimento cheese. I just can't eat Miracle Whip. It is sweet to me.

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  27. Love your comments & recipes! My very Southern mom never used Miracle Whip, it was way too sweet.(But a lot of our extended family did) She only used Hellmans and everything she made was Delicious. I'm going to try the pimento cheese with Miracle Whip. It's weird sometimes I just crave me some pimento cheese! Thanks for all your recipes.

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  28. What do you use Pimento Cheese with? On a sandwich?

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    Replies
    1. How about a toasted pimento sandwich or is delicious on asorted crackers

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  29. I love the recipe. I don't use pecans. I use only toasted sliced almonds. It's only red grapes, sweet Vidalia Onions and Bama Mayo for my chicken salad and my family.

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  30. This is sooo much like my mom's rec...thanks but one day I didn't have grapes so used craisins....now use them all the time and slice an apple very thin and put it on the sandsich. on my way to kitchen

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  31. my pimento cheese..1, eight oz. of grated sharp cheddar cheese...1 lb. of grated american cheese..2 regular size jars pimento.3-4 Tbls. sweet pickle relish..3 Tbls.sugar and as much Miracle Whip as you like. I first place sugar, pickles and pimentos in processor and blend..empty into lg.bowl, then grate cheeses in processor, mix all ingredients and you have this southern girl's version.My family loves this, hope you all try it..Blessings !

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  32. I noticed the recipe calls for worchestershire sauce, but the picture shows soy sauce?

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  33. the chicken salad is delicious, my daughter would rather me leave out the grapes but other than that it is really a hit.

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  34. I love both Miracle Whip & Hellmans Mayo & have used both in the same recipes if I'm out of one or the other...I absolutely love the chicken salad recipe & I think it's always awesome to take someone else's recipe & put YOUR OWN SPIN ON IT.Thanks for the CS RECIPE!

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  35. Growing up I always thought Miracle Whip was of the Devil but now I must give it a second chance!

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  36. 6.23.13; I always use Hellman's MAYONAISE; Diced and drained Pimiento. Cayenne Pepper, New York Extra Sharp Grated Cheddar Cheese, and perhaps a "dusting" of GARLIC Salt. Serve on Seedless RYE Bread...It will "Sing !"

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  37. we hate celery can you use anything else or can you just leave it out? thanks so much

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    Replies
    1. You can always just leave it out.

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    2. When making chicken salad, I use homemade sweet pickles instead of celery. Delicious!!!

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  38. They all sound good, I know that my mom used to use miracle whip all the time when I was a kid, and she had great chicken salad, but which do you all recommend for potato sald mayo or miracle whip?

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  39. I just made this and I absolutely love it...yum yum

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  40. I make my pimento and cheese like this too, grated cheese, sweet pickles, miracle whip, pimento's and about 3 teaspoons of sugar and a sprinkle of black pepper.

    The chicken salad I use a roasted one, take off the skin and chop meat up into good sized chunks, add chopped green onions, a couple of boiled eggs, green and purple grapes, Miracle Whip, sugar and pepper. Let chill and serve with croissant rolls.

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  41. So glad to see so many people appreciate Miracle Whip!

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