SPAM!

[procon]

You know, the pink mystery meat that comes stuffed in those funny shaped cans, have you eaten SPAM?

It's probably been more than 40 years since I've had any, but it was my dad's go-to Sunday brunch special. It was one of the few things he cooked, Fried Chocolate Pies and Fried SPAM with Eggs, but after I left home it was never on my menu.

Then suddenly last week I had an uncontrollable urge to toss a can of SPAM in my shopping cart. Its been sitting in the pantry, staring at me from behind the can of Refried Beans, so this morning I cooked it the only way I knew how; fried, with eggs and hash browns.

I was surprised that it was not as salty or, greasy as bacon, and it was actually quite tasty. Both me and the Mister liked it enough to eat two slices, so I'm a happy convert! SPAM comes in many different, interesting flavors now -- who knew! -- so I'm definitely going to add a couple of cans to my next shopping list. I'm looking for some tried and true recipe ideas from any of you folks who cook SPAM... wanna share?

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Remember,this was one of the

newly created canned meat items that won WW2. There is not a singly garbage item in Spam.

[Docreed2003]

2. I have an unnatural love for Spam...

I love when I'm in Hawaii seeing spam everywhere. For example, on the McDonalds breakfast menu. Also in places that I'm not sure I have enough courage to try like "spam sushi" in convenience stores.

[Kleveland]

4. Isn't that called "Spushi"?

At least, I have seen it called that.

Ha!

[Retrograde]

18. It's usually spam musubi, which differs from sushi

in that the rice is prepared differently (and not as tasty, IMHO). They seem to be popular, and the stores that sell them seem to have enough turnover that they're fresh that day. If you like that sort of thing. I once bought what I thought was some normal sushi at a small store on Kauai: it hid a slice of spam. It was the shock that put me off: when you're expecting s seafood biting into a salty cooked meat is a surprise.

[Docreed2003]

19. Never seen it inside of a roll...that would have been a surprise for sure!

[Kleveland]

3. Spam actually has a remarkable history.

It is enormously popular in Hawaii.

In fact, there is a flavor variety that was created for the Hawaiian market called "Portuguese Sausage".

http://www.spam.com/varieties/spam-portuguese-sausage

Difficult to find on the mainland, but not impossible.

There is a Spam museum!

http://www.spam.com/museum

I admit, I rarely consume the stuff, but I do make an appetizer for parties called "Pig Newtons".

http://mealsteps.com/recipe/pig_newtons

Surprisingly, that usually gets consumed before shrimp cocktail platters! Weird.

I would like to make it clear, that I am not an employee of Hormel, nor am I compensated in any way for my presentation of the links herein.

Just trying to share my knowledge of "Glorious SPAM".

(I am however related to Sir Spamalot)

[Freddie]

5. Fried Chocolate Pie?

Recipe please?
I like Spam on occasion if sautéed crispy. Same with scrapple, our regional "delicacy." Catsup please (not pancake syrup).

[Kleveland]

8. You sent me into a Google Fried Chocolate Pie search frenzy....

I found this recipe, I wonder if it is what was being referred to.

I liked this one, because it was all made from scratch, not using supermarket pie crust, which is full of stuff I do not want to consume.

http://www.southernplate.com/2013/06/chocolate-fried-pies-pie-day-friday.html

Mmmmmm.....chocolatey!

[Freddie]

9. That looks heavenly!

Must try. I've seen similar recipes using crescent roll dough (baked) which also look wonderful.

[Kleveland]

6. A recipe from my earlier childhood.

My recently departed mother used to make this when I was a kid.

She was a divorcee, and a hard working teacher. Often she did not have the time to make time consuming dishes for me and my two sisters.

I always enjoyed this dish, and I am tempted to make it to rekindle some fond childhood memories of our times with mom.

This I believe is the actual recipe that she used:

http://www.midcenturymenu.com/2009/06/mid-century-menu-peachy-spam-dinner-loaf/

It brought a melancholy smile to my face to find this recipe, as I stated, pretty sure it was the actual recipe that my mom used. She had a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens.

It is really quite tasty. Sweet, salty and spicy!

Enjoy!

[Freddie]

11. Mid-Century Menu is a blast

One of my favorite sites. Poor Tom. I'm old enough to remember some of those things.

[irisblue]

12. I now have that site bookmarked.

And since I have a can of spam & peaches, I'll try that after I get cloves.

[Kleveland]

13. The way my mom made it...

Had more partial slices in the Spam loaf itself than what is pictured in that Website.

Glad you found it interesting, and happy to share a memory that comes via my late mother.

Memories... one could get lost in personal family memories.

[Phentex]

7. Last time I had it was when my kids were younger...

and the only Spam they knew was on the internet. I bought some on a lark to show them what it was.

[packman]

10. And , of course -----

?t=2

[Ron Obvious]

17. Could you do the egg bacon spam and sausage without the spam then?

[AJT]

14. SPAM is a big deal in Hawaii. So many recipes.

[Retrograde]

20. I bought a can of spam-flavored macadamia nuts

the last time I was there. They tasted mainly of salt, but I couldn't resist the idea of combining two iconic Hawai'ian foods.

[CentralMass]

15. I'll have to pick ip a can in my travels today

[Galileo126]

16. First time in 25 years, I bought a can two months ago.

I can only eat it fried. And yeah, with 2 eggs sunny, and hash browns. Toast.

Twas better than I remembered. You're (all) correct: not as salty as I thought it was. I might buy another, maybe next year.

And no, while working in Hawaii, I never touched the Spushi. Ever. Spam is something you cook at home, not order at a restaurant (exception: a diner). I figure if I'm in Hawaii, there better be fish in my sushi!