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Spam Turns Serious and Hormel Turns Out More (Spam making a comeback)
nytimes. ^ | November 14, 2008 | ANDREW MARTIN

Posted on 02/12/2009 4:24:55 PM PST by dennisw

Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be among the world’s most maligned foods, dismissed as inedible by food elites and skewered by comedians who have offered smart-alecky theories on its name

But these days, consumers are rediscovering relatively cheap foods, Spam among them. A 12-ounce can of Spam, marketed as “Crazy Tasty,” costs about $2.40. “People are realizing it’s not that bad a product,” said Dan Johnson, 55, who operates a 70-foot-high Spam oven.

Hormel declined to cooperate with this article, but several of its workers were interviewed here recently with the help of their union, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 9. Slumped in chairs at the union hall after making 149,950 cans of Spam on the day shift, several workers said they been through boom times before — but nothing like this.

Spam “seems to do well when hard times hit,” said Dan Bartel, business agent for the union local. “We’ll probably see Spam lines instead of soup lines.”

Even as consumers are cutting back on all sorts of goods, Spam is among a select group of thrifty grocery items that are selling steadily.

Pancake mixes and instant potatoes are booming. So are vitamins, fruit and vegetable preservatives and beer, according to data from October compiled by Information Resources, a market research firm.

“We’ve seen a double-digit increase in the sale of rice and beans,” said Teena Massingill, spokeswoman for the Safeway grocery chain, in an e-mail message. “They’re real belly fillers.”

Kraft Foods said recently that some of its value-oriented products like macaroni and cheese, Jell-O and Kool-Aid were experiencing robust growth. And sales are still growing, if not booming, for Velveeta, a Kraft product that bears the same passing resemblance to cheese as Spam bears to ham.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: food; spam; spamspam; spamspamspam; spamspamspamspam; spamspamspamspamspam
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To: CaptRon
Oops. Cut off the end.

Spam Salad Ingredients: 1 can of Spam, regular or low-salt 1/4 cup diced white onion 1/4 cup diced sweet or dill pickle 1 large hard boiled egg, diced 1/4 teaspoon celery seed Kraft Sandwich Spread or Salad Dressing to taste Directions: Decan the Spam. Either grind or use a food processor to reduce it to consistency of coarse hamburger. Mix with other ingredients using enough Sandwich Spread or Salad Dressing to get the spreading consistency you desire. Chill thoroughly. Serve as dip with chips or crackers or make into sandwiches.

41 posted on 02/12/2009 4:46:20 PM PST by CaptRon (Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead)
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To: dennisw

I just returned from a trip to Hawaii. Spam is really big there and it is served in all sorts of ways. Apparently, it’s hold over from WWII.


42 posted on 02/12/2009 4:46:35 PM PST by dools007
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To: MarkeyD

How the heck does one cook the stuff?? I’ve never eaten it before. Give me some recipes so I can save them for the coming depression that’s around the corner.


43 posted on 02/12/2009 4:47:13 PM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: Politically Correct

Fried until dark brown on both sides with hashbrowns and over easy eggs. Or my other favorite is fried with mac and cheese.


44 posted on 02/12/2009 4:47:53 PM PST by aft_lizard (One animal actually eats its own brains to conserve energy, we call them liberals.)
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To: MHGinTN
same wave length
45 posted on 02/12/2009 4:48:25 PM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: donaldo

I know what you mean. It’s a lot like those raunchy White Castle hamburgers. As terrible as they are, sometimes I get this really powerful urge to have a couple. Very weird.


46 posted on 02/12/2009 4:48:36 PM PST by dools007
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To: donaldo

So do I! Spam rocks!


47 posted on 02/12/2009 4:48:47 PM PST by Redleg Duke ("Sarah Palin...Unleashing the Fury of the Castrated Left!")
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To: MarkeyD
Walmart has their own brand which doesn’t taste any different and it’s half the price.

I'll bet they can't call it Spam since Hormel has it trade marked
48 posted on 02/12/2009 4:50:21 PM PST by dennisw (Archimedes--- Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth)
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To: RoseofTexas

Prepare one box of Kraft mac and cheese. The kind with shell noodles and cheese in the foil envelope is best. Cut spam or reduced sodium spam into cubes.

Pour spam cubes in Mac and cheese. stir

Eat


49 posted on 02/12/2009 4:50:31 PM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . The original point of America was not to be Europe)
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To: dennisw

50 posted on 02/12/2009 4:50:40 PM PST by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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To: Redleg Duke
I make this a lot!

Cheesy Macaroni Bake

8 oz Elbow macaroni
1 cn Spam luncheon meat - (12 oz); diced
2 tb Butter or margarine; divided
1 tb Flour
1/4 ts Salt
1/4 ts Dry mustard
Freshly-ground black pepper; to taste
1 ds Cayenne
2 c Milk
1/2 lb Process sharp American cheese; diced
1/2 c Fresh bread crumbs
1/8 ts Paprika
Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Combine Spam with macaroni in lightly-greased 2-quart casserole.

In medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter; blend in flour, salt, mustard, pepper, and cayenne until smooth. Stir in milk; cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture thickens and boils. Add cheese; cook, stirring until cheese melts. Pour over Spam mixture; mix well.

Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter; combine with bread crumbs and paprika; sprinkle over top. Bake in 400 degree F. oven 20 to 25 minutes.

Microwave directions: Cook macaroni according to package directions. In 4-cup measure, stir together flour, salt, mustard, pepper, and cayenne; slowly mix in milk until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon butter and cheese; microwave 4 minutes. Stir until smooth, microwave 3 minutes more. Beat until smooth.

Combine Spam and macaroni in casserole; mix in sauce. Combine 1 tablespoon butter, bread crumbs, and paprika in 2-cup measure; microwave 1 minute. Reserve. Microwave casserole 3 minutes. Stir; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture; microwave 2 minutes more. Cover and let stand 3 minutes.

I use bottled cheese sauce in place of the melted cheese. Makes it easier.

51 posted on 02/12/2009 4:52:24 PM PST by CaptRon (Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead)
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To: BerryDingle

wow! Nice old advertisement


52 posted on 02/12/2009 4:53:05 PM PST by dennisw (Archimedes--- Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth)
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To: goat granny
lots of butter

...*smiles*...geeezzz why don'tcha just flat line me..direct IV...WITH A DOUBLE THICK SHAKE....(giving you that ron white DUH look)..

53 posted on 02/12/2009 4:53:37 PM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: dools007

Ever tried Spam fried rice??
OUTSTANDING!!
Thin sliced and fried, on a par with bacon for a breakfast meat.
A staple in both Hawaii and The Philippines.
Jack


54 posted on 02/12/2009 4:54:31 PM PST by btcusn
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To: RoseofTexas

Eat it right out of the can, thin slices, it’s not bad with salad; also fried in batter it’s great !

Take a trip to Hawaii in late April for the Waikiki Spam Jam, you’ll get lots of recipes there :)


55 posted on 02/12/2009 4:54:32 PM PST by 1066AD
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To: CaptRon

How is that a salad? The only raw vegetable in it is some onion


56 posted on 02/12/2009 4:54:58 PM PST by dennisw (Archimedes--- Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth)
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To: dennisw

It’s like a spread. Like Deviled ham. They called it a salad, not me.

http://www.melborponsti.com/inxspa.html


57 posted on 02/12/2009 4:58:07 PM PST by CaptRon (Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead)
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To: GeronL

I wonder how it would be breaded and deep fried? With maple syrup?


58 posted on 02/12/2009 4:58:09 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (PIE FIGHT!!!!!)
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To: dennisw
How is that a salad? The only raw vegetable in it is some onion

Think tuna salad, or ham salad, or egg salad. Same idea.

59 posted on 02/12/2009 4:58:36 PM PST by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: Jeff Chandler

don’t make me drool!


60 posted on 02/12/2009 4:59:35 PM PST by GeronL (please stand by...)
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