Ham Tea Sandwiches with Pimento Cheese and Okra (American South)

These adorable ham and pimento cheese tea sandwiches topped with pickled okra garnishes would be perfect for a Southern tea party. Pimento cheese is not only a Southern staple, but also a classic tea sandwich filling - you don't really need anything more than the spread alone slathered between two slices of white bread. Trim off the crusts, cut into finger sandwiches, boom. Done.

12 slices white bread
12 slices Black Forest ham
1½ cups pimento cheese
6 pickled okra pods

Garnish:
pimentos

Freeze bread for 30 minutes before making sandwiches for easier assembly and cutting.

Soften pimento cheese to room temperature before attempting to spread. You can set it out at the same time you put your bread in the freezer.

Line up 6 slices of bread. Top each one with two slices of ham, and then spread with ¼ cup pimento cheese. Top each sandwich with another piece of bread.

Refrigerate for an hour until chilled (this helps the pimento cheese firm up again so it doesn't all squish out when you cut it). Trim off crusts, and cut each large sandwich into four fingers with a serrated knife.

Slice each okra pod into 4 rounds (give or take, depending on the length of the pod). Discard (or eat) the skinny end of the pods.

Top each finger sandwich with slice of pickled okra and two pimentos to make a flower.