Mom’s Holiday Cheese Dip

There are two clear types of holiday recipes. There are the time-tested kind, the ones that have been made over and over again, and will always be around because 1) everyone loves them and 2) the person making the recipe could do it with their eyes closed and one hand tied behind their back. There are also the newer kinds of recipes, those that are maybe a little more modern, with unusual ingredients and were probably found in a magazine or, ahem, a food blog.

This recipe is hands-down an example of the first type. My mother’s cheese dip graces pretty much every holiday party she attends in December, it is a rare occasion when she’s able to bring any leftovers home. This is the kind of appetizer that you snack on before dinner, and then return to when you’ve finished dessert. It’s the kind that you can’t stand in front of for more than 5 seconds without compulsively piling some on a cracker, until you’re wondering where all the crackers went and why you feel so full all of a sudden.

You really wanna know how good this is? It has mayonnaise in it. Mayo binds the whole thing together and coats every little piece of cheese, olive and pecan in the mix and, as you know, I hate mayonnaise. But I like this. I eat it with a smile on my face and won’t even bother to try and change the recipe. That should really tell you something.  I suggest you grate some cheese, chop some olives and prepare to smile a lot this holiday season.

Mom’s Holiday Cheese Dip

Recipe by Fair Johnson

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1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
1 medium onion, grated
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/2 teaspoon tabasco
1/2-1 cup chopped stuffed green olives, depending on how much you like olives

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour. Serve with crackers and hope your friends and family save you some.

Tagged as: Cheese, Nuts, Olives, Onion