Cooking & Baking
Related: About this forumSPAM!
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
(34,661 posts)newly created canned meat items that won WW2. There is not a singly garbage item in Spam.
Docreed2003
(16,866 posts)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
(1,257 posts)At least, I have seen it called that.
Ha!
Retrograde
(10,137 posts)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
(16,866 posts)Kleveland
(1,257 posts)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
(9,269 posts)Recipe please?
I like Spam on occasion if sautéed crispy. Same with scrapple, our regional "delicacy." Catsup please (not pancake syrup).
Kleveland
(1,257 posts)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
(9,269 posts)Must try. I've seen similar recipes using crescent roll dough (baked) which also look wonderful.
Kleveland
(1,257 posts)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
(9,269 posts)One of my favorite sites. Poor Tom. I'm old enough to remember some of those things.
irisblue
(32,992 posts)And since I have a can of spam & peaches, I'll try that after I get cloves.
Kleveland
(1,257 posts)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
(16,334 posts)and the only Spam they knew was on the internet. I bought some on a lark to show them what it was.
packman
(16,296 posts)Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)AJT
(5,240 posts)Retrograde
(10,137 posts)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
(15,265 posts)Galileo126
(2,016 posts)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!