Lightened-Up Pimento Cheese Dip
My friends like to tease me about the fact that I have a formal, documented list of life goals. I don’t care; I think it’s cool. How else am I supposed to accomplish everything I want to do in life if I don’t keep track?
My #1 biggest goal is that I would like to attend the Kentucky Derby and wear a really big hat. I’m actually holding out on drinking my first-ever mint julep until I’m there.
By attending the Derby, I don’t mean I want to stand in the general admission infield. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s just not how I want to attend.
I want to sit in the grandstands, wear a beautiful dress, have a seersucker suit-wearing husband on my arm, sip a julep out of a copper cup, and wear a HUGE hat. The kind with flowers and fake birds and ribbons and bows. The bigger and more ridiculous the better.
Years ago, to the best of my knowledge, any extra grandstand tickets were given out at the discretion of some committee based on letters sent in pleading for tickets.
Thus, each year, I would write a letter outlining my list of life goals, with Derby attendance ranked at #1, and send it to Churchill Downs, fingers crossed.
I was never offered tickets until a few years back, when the rules changed. Now, anybody can purchase grandstand tickets on a first-come first-serve basis. For $800/person.
Adding in travel expenses + the beautiful dress + the seersucker suit + the obnoxious hat + the mint juleps + the large bet I want to place on the race itself while I’m there . . . let’s just say I’m going to need to bulk up my savings account a little more before I’m singing “My Old Kentucky Home” with the best of them.
That being said, I never miss the Derby on television, and I usually make a Southern-themed snack to go along with it. I’ve made this dip countless times in the last few months, and I can promise you it’s every bit as tasty as it’s full-fat cousin.
Nobody will know it’s made with Greek yogurt and light cream cheese. They’ll be too crazy about the flavor of the sharp Cheddar cheese, the tangy pimentos and whole grain mustard, and the touch of hot sauce.
Serve this (or my pimento mac and cheese) at your Kentucky Derby watching party, and look for me in the grandstands in a few years.
Lightened-Up Pimento Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 ounces light cream cheese, softened
- 5 ounces Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup diced pimientos
- 2 tablespoons country Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons sriracha or other hot sauce
- Pretzels, chips or crackers for serving
Instructions
- In medium bowl, stir together all ingredients. Refrigerate at least 2 hours; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes prior to serving. Serve with pretzels, chips or crackers.
Looking for more party-perfect dip ideas?
Lightened-Up Buffalo Chicken Dip
Lightened-Up Jalapeno Popper Dip
Feta & Roasted Jalapeno Hummus
Disclaimer: This post is part of an ongoing relationship I have with NatureBox for recipe development. Posts like this help me pay for the costs associated with this blog (groceries…lots of groceries), and help support me as I pursue a career in recipe development and food photography. All opinions are 100% my own.
You little snooper 😉 Nah, just kidding. Good luck getting that installed, and I hope it does good things for both of us. I’m going to put my new earnings in my Derby/hat/sundress savings account 🙂
Seriously, what other sporting event gives you an excuse to buy a gorgeous sundress and a ridiculously large hat? That’s a great number one goal! I totally came by to snoop on your snazzy new amazon search bar. I’m going to try to get one installed on my site this week too!
Oh my gosh, so jealous of the person you know going to the Derby! I can’t wait until I’ve saved up enough money to go myself (could be awhile) 🙂
Thanks so much, Tess. Enjoy the Derby!
Absolutely LOVE your goal list- I have one too! So I think it is super awesome and I know someone that is going to the derby!! I want to have a big hat and dress party! LOL! Ohhhh and sip on bourbon drinks! I also LOVE that you lightened this baby up, seriously no one ever knows, all that matters is it tastes good!
This looks delicious! There’s nothing more Southern than pimento cheese. I will have to make this for the race! Thanks for sharing!