Pimento Cheese and Crackers

From Martha Stewart

Set out this classic Southern cheese spread as an easy starter for any meal.

Yield Makes 3 cups

Ingredients
    12 ounces whipped cream cheese
    4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated (1 1/2 cups)
    2 jars (2 ounces each) pimentos, drained
    1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
    Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
    Crackers, for serving

Method
Process cream cheese, cheddar, pimentos, and Tabasco in a food processor until coarsely pureed. Transfer to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with crackers.

Variations
This pimento cheese recipe, adapted from the August 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living, is used to make Monster Fingers and Pimento Cheese Paws, a dish that was displayed as part of a special Monster Buffet during Martha's Halloween Monster Bash with Jimmy Fallon. The recipe is exactly the same except that it doesn't include crackers, for serving.