I remember the first time I cooked SPAM in front of my roommates. They were appalled and disgusted and couldn’t stand the smell of it. Then they tried it. Next thing I know, my SPAM cans start disappearing and “Spam and Eggs” became the perfect thing to eat while watching South Park at one in the morning.
Spam always has a negative connotation to it. For too long Spam has been the butt of many jokes and urban legends. We’ll it’s time to stop the hate and pay tribute to the mystery meat that has provided our great country with its delicious taste for many years.
Did you know that SPAM played an important role in WWII? Spam requires no refrigeration and is easily transportable, so GI’s began to eat SPAM for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I’m sure they loved it. It provided sustenance for our soldiers in a time of war. Also, SPAM, unlike beef, was not rationed during the war, so it became a prime staple food in American meals in the late 1930s.
The name SPAM was chosen from multiple entries from a naming contest. It stands for “Shouler of Pork and Ham.” Not “Something Posing As Meat” or “Spare Parts Animal Meat” as some would suggest. It’s actual ingredients contain chopped pork shoulder meat with ham meat added, salt, water, sugar, and sodium nitrite to help keep its color. So nothing scary, just different parts of a pig.
I know I’m not the only fan of SPAM. My family comes from Hawaii where you can order SPAM at McDonald’s and Burger King. I remember passing by a grocery store late at night and seeing a line out the door for a SPAM sale. They don’t mess around when it comes to SPAM over there.
There’s also a museum in Austin, Minnesota that holds a local festival called the SPAM JAM. Celebrants dress themselves in blue and yellow attire (the colors of SPAM packaging) and dance around happily in large SPAM can costumes. If that’s too much SPAM love for you, you can also join the SPAM fan club at spam.com.
Barack Obama, the President-elect of the United States, is even a SPAM fan. A New York pool reporter claimed the future president ordered SPAM for lunch after golfing in Hawaii this weekend.
So stop bagging on SPAM, or at least try it before you make fun of it. Who knows, in this economy, SPAM sales could rapidly rise because of its cheap price, and everyone will trade in their gourmet omelets for SPAM and eggs…one can only dream.
VIDEO: LEARN HOW TO MAKE SPAM MUSUBI
Ahhhhhhhh yes……good ol’ SPAM. I can remember eating SPAM frequently in college just as you did Jonathan. I experienced the same reactions from my roomates and friends and now they are all on the SPAM Wagon. You shouldn’t count out your moms famous SPAM, onion, and tomato omletes. Oh boy did I love to eat those growing up. SPAM, eggs, and rice, and oh yeah, don’t forget the ketchup! Or how about SPACON…….thinly cut slices of SPAM, fried to perfection, with a crispy texture that mimicks that other sliced swine we all love so much, BACON. SPAM on the Barby is fantastic as well, we used to Q it up when we went camping in Hawaii (fine dining for college students). I will never eat a cold SPAM sandwich however, I saw my mom eat one and I about lost it. Pan fried or BBQ’d please. PEACE and LOVE to all you SAPM lovers!
[...] a supply of non-perishable food on hand like dehydrated food, powdered milk, and canned juices. Spam, tuna dried cereals and fruits, and non-salted nuts are good for storage and nutrition as [...]