Rosalynn Carter’s Pimiento Cheese Is A Treasured Recipe For A Reason

For Jason Carter, one simple sandwich evokes special Christmas memories of his late grandmother, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Instead of reflecting on her numerous social and political accomplishments, Jason chooses to remember Rosalynn as he saw her: a humble Southern grandma who had a healthy appreciation for mayonnaise.

She was the type of woman who always packed a lunch—with enough to spare. And like most Georgia-bred ladies of her generation, she also had a killer pimiento cheese recipe. “My grandmother was like everyone else’s in a lot of ways: She was kind and loving, and almost all of her recipes called for mayonnaise,” says Jason, the chair of  The Carter Center and eldest grandson of President and Mrs. Carter.

He fondly recalls how his grandparents used to take the whole family on a big trip at Christmas—and the time when Rosalynn’s famous spread came along with them. “We were all in the back of the plane together,” Jason says. “After takeoff, we looked over, and my grandmother had taken out a Tupperware of her pimiento cheese and a loaf of bread and started making sandwiches.”

As if that weren’t enough, once all the kids in her family were fed, she shared with other people on board. “I still remember the surprised looks on folks’ faces as they watched a former First Lady pass out those sandwiches!” he says. “That moment is a perfect reflection of my grandmother: practical, down-to-earth, and selfless.”

Editorial contributions by Meghan Overdeep.