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Hi Reader!

✨A quick recipe note: this pimento cheese version is a touch different than the one I sent out in the newsletter a few weeks back. And obviously, I like this one even better! ✨

I love dips, full stop. When we were eating Pimento Cheese on a rooftop bar at Stella's graduation, I said, "I love dips so much. I could make myself sick eating them." Stella replied, "That's the most American thing you've ever said."

As a people, we love a good dip.

I feel lucky enough to live in an area of California that people love to visit (the Santa Ynez Valley 🐎). It's just a wee north of Santa Barbara, and it's beautiful with lots of wineries, rolling hills and sweet farm stands. It's the perfect summer weekend getaway.

This summer, if you come to visit, this dip is most definitely on the cheese/charcuterie platter, served with a fun drink. I have a friend coming up this weekend (hi Kim!) and I'm perfecting a blackberry margarita for happy hour. If they're good, I'll share!!

So, about this pimento cheese recipe... This dip is all the things. I like equal parts mayo and cream cheese. It yields the best consistency, both cold and at room temperature. Plus, the tang from the cream cheese cannot be beat.

The heat from the fresh grated onion and 1 full teaspoon of cayenne, is perfection.

It takes minutes to throw together and stays perfect in the fridge for a healthy week.

I've graduated from putting it on crackers to dipping pretzels in it, and I have to say, my god. The pretzels. It's truly the perfect creamy, salty, spicy, robust dip.

Make it and let me know what you think. And I'd love to hear what you're pairing it with!

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PS A quick summer reading note!! My queued up reading for the remainder of summer: finishing Wuthering Heights (tortured Heathcliff!), The Tell (this has great reviews), James (I've been wanting to read this since it came out!) and Great Big Beautiful Life (because I love an easy breezy read and this was a gift from my friend; thanks Suz!). Let me know what you're reading!

PPS This dip goes great with a good read! ;) And for those with a sweet hankering, these Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies (no rest, one bowl) are trending on the site this week! ✌🏼

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