Pimento Cheese Hushpuppies

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup grated sharp yellow cheddar, at room temperature
• 1 whole pickled jalapeño, minced
• 1⁄2 6-oz. jar pimentos, drained and chopped
• pinches Kosher salt
• pinches white or black pepper
• pinches ground cayenne
• 3 tbsp. mayonnaise
• 3⁄4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. cornmeal
• 1⁄2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 2 1⁄2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1⁄2 tsp. black pepper
• 3 oz. beer
• 1 egg
• 1⁄4 cup minced scallions
• 1 1⁄2 oz. jarred pimentos, drained
• 2 tbsp. pimento cheese (recipe above)
• 1⁄3 cup aged shredded white cheddar
• 7 cups canola oil, for frying