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Did you ever fall in love with a certain food or dish??

I fell in love with pepper jelly in my early 20’s, thanks to my grandmother, Edith Duncan. Gran was a whiz in the kitchen, sometimes the recipes were hers, some belonged to her fabulous cook, Liza. Pepper Jelly was, however, her very own, at least from what I know!! She excelled in making this delicious jelly, sharing with family, friends, and the local Episcopal Church bazaar. After visiting with her, I always went home with my very own dozen jars, to hoard and share as I saw fit.

Pepper Jelly is of course sweet, yet spicy with a decidedly vinegar aftertaste and a real kick to the palate depending on how many peppers you use. It compliments all sorts of meats, poultry, and cheese. But one of my favorite ways to use it is St James Pepper Jelly Spread. This was the featured appetizer one year at the St. James Episcopal Church Bazaar in Greenville, Mississippi. It amazed me to find freshly shredded cheddar cheese, green onions , and mayo with pecans arranged in such an incredible blend that it appealed to ladies and gentlemen alike. St. James Pepper Jelly Spread has been widely imitated, but never equaled. For crying out loud, don’t mix a variety of cheeses, keep that white cheese at home, and stick to extra sharp cheddar cheese you grate yourself. Don’t skimp with the mayonnaise quality, get Hellman’s and be glad you did – no substitution exists for the savory quality. Fresh, crisp green onions – tops and bottoms – and of course, pecans. Chop them coarsely. Why wouldn’t you want a larger piece of pecan to capture all the sweet savory goodness of the jelly and cheese. I never thought of slightly roasting the pecans before adding to the dip mix until now, but wouldn’t that just intensify the nuttiness of the pecan all over again? Oh, and by the way, it MUST be served on that ever popular buttery cracker, the iconic Ritz!

A few final words to the wise and interested: stay true to the natural color of pepper jelly, a golden amber color with bits of seed and pulp floating gloriously about the jar. Sacrilege is thinking you need to put in copious amounts of food coloring to achieve that Christmas red or Leprechaun green or – Sweet Lord forbid – your team colors. Natural is better, natural is calming, and universally appealing as you slather it on cheese, Cornish game hens, a beautiful pork loin or just a plain ole country ham sandwich.

Enjoy, I’m heading to the pantry.

Recipes:
Pepper Jelly
Pepper Jelly Spread
Pepper Jelly Sandwich
Pepper Jelly Glazed Cornish Game Hens