Rosalynn Carter's 4-Ingredient Appetizer Is the Only Holiday Party Food We Want This Year

Bonus: It’s no-bake.

We all know that First Ladies are much more than just the Presidents' wives. In addition to taking the lead in social and ceremonial events at the White House, they also champion social platforms that are important to them. Yet, the public often wants to know about some of the more traditional “lady of the house” things they do, such as decorating for the holidays or whether they can cook.

The “First Lady Cookie Bake-Off” sponsored by now-defunct Family Circle magazine used to be big news during an election year. People still talk about and bake Laura Bush’s winning version of Cowboy Cookies.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who passed away last week at the age of 96 (and was married to Jimmy Carter for 77 years!), focused on the performing arts, mental health, and older adults while she lived in the White House. But, like all first ladies, the public was also interested in what she made in the kitchen.

After her death, the U.S. National Archives shared two of Mrs. Carter’s recipes on X (formerly known as Twitter). The first was for strawberry cake, and the recipe is one we can get behind because it started with a box of cake mix that she put her spin on. The second was for a four-ingredient appetizer that fits our obsession with recipes from the 1970s and '80s.

Rosalynn Carter’s 'Plains Special' Cheese Ring

Dust off the ring mold languishing in the back of your kitchen cabinet, and get it ready to make this no-bake cheese ring that comes together in just minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 pound grated sharp cheese (we presume that would be sharp Cheddar)

• 1 cup finely chopped nuts (we think pecans would work well)

• 1 cup mayonnaise

• 1 small onion, finely grated

• 1 pinch black pepper, or to taste

• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

• Strawberry preserves (Optional)

Directions

1. Mix together cheese, nuts, mayonnaise, onion, and both peppers in a mixing bowl.

2. Transfer mixture to a 5- or 6-cup ring mold.

3. Chill for 8 hours to overnight, or until the cheese ring is firm.

4. Just before serving, unmold the ring onto a plate.

5. Fill the center of cheese ring with strawberry preserves.

6. Serve with crackers.

If strawberry preserves don’t appeal to you, try fig jam, habanero pineapple jam, or bacon jam in the center of the ring. They would all complement the Cheddar well. No matter what ends up in the center of this cheese ring, we’re sure the appetizer will end up on our tables during the holidays—probably served with a retro cocktail.

Read the original article on All Recipes.