Olive Pimiento Cheese

Pimiento cheese is a Southern classic. Serve it on an appetizer board with a variety of crackers and veggies, or - spread on bread to make a sandwich, top a burger, toss with hot pasta, even dollop over hot French fries.
1 jar (9 oz.) Del Monte® Pimiento Stuffed Olives, drained and sliced crosswise
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. real mayonnaise
1 to 2 tsp. hot sauce, to taste
1/4 tsp. each black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (hand shredded)
Crackers, celery and carrot sticks
Reserve a few olive slices for garnish; set aside.
Stir together cream cheese, mayonnaise, hot sauce, black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Stir in cheddar. Gently fold in sliced olives.
Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving for flavors to meld. To serve, remove from refrigerator a few minutes to soften then garnish with reserved olive slices.
TIP: To soften cream cheese, microwave on HIGH 30 seconds.