Saturday 10 February 2018

Spam, spam, spam, spam..........................

When you have chemo and nasty tablets forced upon you, one of the side effects is loss of taste-buds or things tasting weird and a dry, sometimes sore mouth.

So when Col said "I fancy Spam Fritters" I wasn't going to argue.



Spam is funny stuff, not something we had much when I was small as far as I can remember although we regularly had other tinned meats like luncheon meat and Ye Olde Oak Ham in it's unusual shaped tin, which was always part of Sunday tea if Aunties, Uncles and cousins came round.

Spam first came to this country from the USA during World War II.

Here's what Wikiwotsit says

History Spam was introduced by Hormel in 1937. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America states that the product was intended to increase the sale of pork shoulder which was not a very popular cut. Ken Daigneau, brother of a company executive, won a $100 prize that year in a competition to name the new item. Hormel claims that the meaning of the name "is known by only a small circle of former Hormel Foods executives", but popular beliefs are that the name is an abbreviation of "spiced ham",

According to various wartime books it was a very different product to what we see now, with a layer of fat around the outside - just as I remember corned beef once having about 30 years ago.

More from Wiki

Beginning in 1940, Spam sponsored George Burns and Gracie Allen on their radio program. During WWII, Spam was not only eaten but was also incorporated into many other aspects of the war; it was so prominent that Uncle Sam was nicknamed "Uncle Spam". Other terms influenced by the product’s name include the European invasion fleet, or the "Spam Fleet". Furthermore, the United Service Organizations toured the "Spam Circuit". In the United States in the aftermath of World War II, a troupe of former servicewomen was assembled by Hormel Foods to promote Spam from coast to coast. The group was known as the Hormel Girls and associated the food with being patriotic. In 1948, two years after its formation, the troupe had grown to 60 women with 16 forming an orchestra. The show went on to become a radio program where the main selling point was Spam. The Hormel Girls were disbanded in 1953.

There is a Spam museum in Austin Minnisota...............sounds er............exciting?


Here is the Nutritional Information for Original Spam (from Wiki again)
Net weight per package: 340 grams (12 oz.)
Serving size: 100g

Quantity per 100g
Energy 1,300 kJ (310 Calories or kilocalories)
Protein 13g (26% Daily Value or DV)
Total Fat 27g (41% DV)
  – saturated fat 10g (49% DV)
Carbohydrates 3g (1% DV)
Sodium 1369 mg (57% DV)
Cholesterol 70 mg (23% DV)
Vitamins and Minerals (% DV) 1% Vitamin C, 1% Calcium, 5% Iron, 3% Magnesium, 9% Potassium, 12% Zinc,
and 5% Copper


From the above I'd sum that up as fatty and salty!

A big tin of Spam - 340g is £2, so 58.8p per 100g. It's not something that will ever feature regularly on our menu but  a tin sitting in the cupboard is a useful standby. If it's popped in the fridge for several hours before opening it can be sliced very thin and will do fritters and a couple of days for lunch sandwiches.

BTW I was Never a fan of Monty Python and the spam with everything sketch makes me feel quite ill!

Back Monday
Sue

61 comments:

  1. Those inexplicable cravings, and the pleasure of at last having something to feed to the invalid, even if is was Spam. I hope it lived up to expectations and gave some pleasure.

    In my childhood memories Spam fritters were wonderful, but it was probably the combination of crispy golden batter and the soft salty Spam which worked so well. I had completely forgotten about Ye Olde Oak Ham which was an occasional Sunday teatime treat, along with tinned fruit cocktail, with thick evaporated milk poured over for pudding.

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    1. Tinned fruit cocktail was always dished up in a bowl of jelly - to make it serve more I guess

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  2. Most important - did Col enjoy his Spam fritters?
    (I rather like the stuff and it makes lovely stuffing, mixed with some Paxo sage and onion)
    J x

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    Replies
    1. Yes thanks, he found they tasted right thank goodness. I don't mind Spam now and again

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  3. I remember liking Spam when I was a teenager. I’d try it now but might get addicted to it and that’s the last thing my waistline needs! ☺️

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  4. YUK! we used to have spam fitters at school, before such thing as an alternative lunch. Did Col enjoy them though?
    When I had chemo many years ago, I favoured a full english breakfast, and it was yummy!

    Julie xxxxx

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    Replies
    1. he's also eating fruit yogurts and apple juice - both things that he didn't eat before

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  5. We love Spam! Dry fried it is very similar to bacon if a different texture.

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  6. When my daughter aged four was having treatment for leukaemia just about the only thing she would eat was asda steak and kidney pie , my trolly would be full of them .

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  7. there's a blast from the past. Growing up we had a lot of spam and tinned corned beef. Never bought either as my grown up self! Hope Col enjoys his fritters.

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  8. I don't think in all my married life I have ever bought a tin of SPAM, but I used to buy hubby Ye Olde Oak Ham and the tins of corned beef even I was partial to...maybe just maybe we'll try a tin of SPAM made into fritters sometime soon x

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    Replies
    1. By doing fritters we used to make a tin of corned beef feed 5 when the children were small!

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    2. Corned beef hash is great in winter but it has to be served with - something else disgusting, ha ha - mushy peas!
      Corned beef in a crusty baguette with chutney is great, too. Not for the figure, of course ...
      Margaret P

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  9. Gosh, I can remember my mum doing Spam fritters when I was growing up. At least it is something that Col will enjoy, and it's not as though you live on the stuff!

    I remember that Ye Olde Oak Ham too. Life (and food!) was so much simpler then. We didn't read the label, we just ate the stuff. You've taken me back to Sunday tea with blancmange and Battenburg cake to follow . . .

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    Replies
    1. Blancmange is one of the very few things that I just can't eat.Haven't had battenburg for ages, tried making it once - a bit of a faff.

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    2. I aade chocolate blancmange a while ago, Sue, but although I kept to the measurements that were given, it was too thick and stodgy. I prefer Bird's custard (not the carton, the powder made properly with milk and sugar.
      I bought a Battenberg cake not long ago but both husband and I (as well as elder son, here at the time, and offered a slice) said it was far too sweet. Since cutting a lot of sugar out of our diet, things which are sweet often taste far too sweet and sickly now.
      Margaret P

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  10. We had spam fritters for lunch when I was a child, normally on a Thursday, Friday was dad's pay day and the cupboard was always low on a Thursday lunch time. I could not eat it now. I always had a metallic taste in my mouth, it covered the taste of most foods.

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  11. Hope Col enjoyed his fritters, I certainly remember them from school dinners!
    Lisa x

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  12. I still eat Spam quite often. But never as fritters. I like Spam, beans and bread and butter.

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  13. My two menfolks love a spam fritter and you can actually buy them in Asda ready done in the fresh fridge bit! My HG also uses it as fishing bait! I'm now singing spam spam spam spam lol x

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  14. Hope he enjoyed them. I used to love them when I was little!

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  15. I never liked spam but that ye olde oak ham i used to have that when i was courting my husbands at his moms for sunday tea with cakes and was always embarrassed eating in front of them as his mom used to cut the salad that was on the sandwiches thickley so they were never easy to eat for a nervous 16 year old lol , Its amazing what memories blog posts bring back at times , Glad colin fancied something that hopefully he would have tasted and enjoyed xxx

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  16. Jon and my boys love Bacon Grill which i think is something similar and have it on sandwiches for breakfast. If I'm feeling a bit naughty I'll have it on the rare occasion. Hope the Spam sorted out Col's taste buds.

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  17. we used to have spam in batter for school lunch in the sixties,I remember I used to quite like it,it made a change from watery mince!Must admit I have not eaten it since then.

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    1. I'm glad we didn't have spam at our primary as the food travelled in a van from another school and I think spam fritters kept hot would have been a bit soggy!

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  18. I also remember Spam fritters as a stand out school lunch compared to the vats of sloppy brown 'stews'. Occasionally, we have Lidl pork/ham or bacon grill grilled crisply as a tasty, store cupboard, change.
    My Grandmother, who was a brilliant cook, would always serve ye old oak ham & tinned fruit salad as a Sunday teatime treat when we visited - because she'd had an extremely impoverished childhood (& a very tough working life in service) & to her these tinned products were the height of luxury & that's why she served them to us children :).

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    1. yes, old oak ham was quite a luxury - My mum didn't drive and we were miles from a shop so I guess it was always in the cupboard just in case

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  19. We have a tin ready and waiting, possibly for use in our second week of rationing. Putting it in the fridge is a brilliant idea 😊

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  20. Don't forget to multiply those fat, sodium, calories etc. by 3.4 (or 1.7 for two people).

    I wonder what the reaction would be if you offered a small piece to a cat.

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    1. You've lost me there with the maths!

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    2. The values given are per 100 gm and the tin contains 340 gm. I saw some red meat advertised by a international supermarket chain at 3 euro 49 cents per kilo. Can the price be justified? Can it be free of growth hormone? Those were my first two thoughts.

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  21. I used to love Spam fritters at school. Doubt I'd eat them now though. Hope Col enjoyed them - must be awful to not be able to taste or enjoy food properly.

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    1. Sweet things taste too sweet but he now has to have a little sugar in tea to make it taste like tea!

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  22. You know what they say, a little bit of what you fancy does you good. I hope Col enjoyed them.

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  23. Strange USA fact - spam is really popular in Hawaii and is even served at McDonalds there, much to my surprise!

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  24. My husband likes Spam every once in a while. It makes me cringe. However, if that is what Col is craving and he has an appetite for it, all the better! -Jenn

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  25. I live in MN - state of SPAM's origins. I've never tasted it or seen what is inside of the tin. And it cracks me up that there is a museum. I think it was more popular in the 40s and 50s because my parents and grandparents ate it. I
    believe SPAM is sold more outside of the U.S. than within which I think is interesting. I think it is quite popular in Asia (I hope I didn't just make that up!). I actually think I might like to try it like once a year. I hear it's great friend up.

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  26. Spam is very popular to this day in Hawaii. You can even find it in sushi there!

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  27. I remember we sometimes had spam fritters at school. I hope Col enjoyed them. X

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  28. Being 80, I remember canned meats, with fat around the outside. :-)

    But have not had it in years and years.

    And never knew all the information, around that product.

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  29. I remember having Spam as a kid, in England and Canada. I don't remember it making an impression one way or the other. In our family if it was cheap, edible and could stretch to feed 7 then we had it!!lol I do like a bologna, lettuce, tomato and mayo sandwich though which I believe is similar to Spam. Glad that Col. enjoyed the Spam and hope there are other things he will fancy.

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  30. When my father was having chemo, he found that corn chips with Mexican dip tasted right but most other food tasted like he'd been sucking on nickels.
    Pancho's Cheese Dip
    In a microwave-safe dish combine:
    1 lb American cheese (yellow; not as strong as cheddar) (cut, torn, or shredded so it melts more quickly)
    1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
    1 teaspoon garlic powder
    1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or less)
    1 can Original Rotel Diced Tomatoes with green chilies
    1/4 cup boiling water

    Cover the dish, microwave on high for 3 minutes, stir well, and microwave again. Mixture should be creamy with tomato lumps. For a really smooth dip, you can use your blender to puree the Rotel tomatoes before adding them to the mix. Instead of a microwave, this can be made using a double boiler. This keeps well in the refrigerator for several days and reheats well. Serve warm. This is delicious and came from a favorite restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee.

    Hope Col likes it if you decide to make it.

    Wishing you and Col well.

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  31. Urrgh! I remember spam fritters at school very well!! Definitely not my favourite school dinner - all greasy and cold! My children love Spam so I usually have a can in the fridge but I don't eat it at all. Glad your husband enjoyed it though.

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  32. In our little town we have a 1940's weekend. For a couple of years friend E invited some of us for a lunch on the sunday, serving things which were around in wartime = including Spam fritters. They were delicious.

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  33. Oh I remember the ham at Sunday teatime too. As well as the peaches and tinned sterilised cream that I loved, not sure I would now.

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    1. It was usually tinned fruit salad in a red jelly for us and evaporated milk

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  34. I might try Spam If I was lost at sea and there was only a can of spam available to eat.

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  35. Wow, I had not realized how much sodium and fat that had in it. I think I won't eat it. lol

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  36. We never used to have the tinned spam but our local grocers used to sell it loose, round slices as I remember, used to love spam and picallili sandwiches on that round bread, milk loaf I think it was called. The spam slice fitted perfectly! Re Sunday teas, my mom used to make something called 'wet salad' which was finely chopped salad stuffs, plus chopped boiled eggs, all in a bowl of vinegar. Like others have said, I guess it was to make it go further but not so long ago I was talking to a pal whose family came from Poland and she knew about making salad like that. Her family just added a splash of cream to the vinegar. I'm wondering if it was something my mom learnt from the wartime when Brum had a huge community of Polish airmen and soldiers. My mom worked in the local NAFFI so it might well have been served there.

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  37. I remember having spam fritters at school for dinner, I hope Col enjoyed his xx

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  38. As a youngster I enjoyed the occasional slice of fried Spam. Now I wonder how I could eat it. Hope Col enjoyed his meal.

    God bless.

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  39. I had to make a comment as a representative of Hawaii here. As Viki says above, Spam is very popular here in Hawaii. It goes back to WWII days but is still very popular sliced and fried up and served with eggs and big helping of white rice for breakfast....and yes that meal can be bought at McDonalds. It is also popular served as a spam musubi....which is a square of compressed cooked rice with a slice of fried spam wrapped together in Japanese seaweed nori. A popular small meal for on the go and sold everywhere. For my kids, their comfort food is a meal their father cooked for them.... a can of spam cut up and fried,and mixed with a fried onion and can of baked beans....served with white rice. As for spam fritters....totally new to me!

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  40. Coo blimey....I hate Spam....and we had it a lot when I was a child. It always feels like it's got gritty bits in it to me.
    Give me luncheon meat any day.

    I'm glad to hear that Col actually fancied something.
    Hugs-x-

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  41. I wonder how long Spam will remain available because, surely, this is only enjoyed by people of a certain age, those whose parents gave it to them, or they ate it at school, either as fritters or in a salad. It will go the way, eventually, of Dolly Blue bags ... and please don't anyone ask me what they are, but let's just say you don't eat them! And when did we last see Vim or Ajax, or Sunlight soap, and what has happened to Camay soap, too, or Knight's Castile, come to that? Things have a tendency to simply disappear and then you suddenly thin, I wonder what happened to such-and-such!
    I actually like Spam. I don't want it as fritters, just sliced and in granary sliced bread. I sometimes add (whisper this, as it's perfectly disgusting!) Sandwich spread! Yes, that yukky stuff from the 1950s/1960s, but it's not as nice as it used to me. But a thin smear of that and Spam is lovely! Seriously, the best way for Spam is with a lovely sliced tomato and a good sprinkling of sea salt. Crusts removed, of course. I have some style even if I eat Spam!
    Margaret P
    www.margaretpowling.com

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    1. You can still buy Dolly Blue bags, if you know where to go!

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  42. When I was a kid, we'd have fried spam sandwiches on toast and they were good. They don't taste the same or maybe I have changed.

    In Hawaii, they love spam. They fix it every which way, and they used to serve spam at MacDonalds. Hawaiians love their spam.

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