- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
- Messages
- 3,432
"Stuff Posing As Meat"
Or Spam as it is more commonaly known. I feel spam deserves it's own post. Maybe even it's own thread, and possibly its own forum. Which it probably already has.
My parents grew up during GD-1, the Great Depression. My dad was born in 1928. So his formative years were tough ones. My parents looked at food much different than I do. They went without. If my dad got extra money. The pantry got filled. Not a boat,mflat screen tv or an ATV, food was first priotity.
He was also a Korean vet. He had an affinity for spam. He worked the docks in NYC before he went over to Korea. One of his early jobs was spending all day standing up 55 gallon drums. To this day, he is the only man I have ever met that can stand up two 55 gallon drums one on each side of him, with one hand on each, at the same time. I am sure others can do it. I just haven't seen it. I also have a picture of him doing a hand stand on the bars of a '47 Indian Chief, floating around somewhere.
He said after doing that all day. He actually gained weight when he went to basic, and even into Korea. He attributed that to Spam and beans. He drove that into my head at a very early age. Son, he would say. "You may not like it, but you can live on it for a long time"
If you think about it from a nutritional standpoint. It makes sense. Both Spam and beans offer up some protien. And the protien from the meat compliments the protien from the legumes. Both add in some carbs. The fat comes from the Spam And the beans finish off with some much needed fiber.
In reality, a pretty complete meal. Easily warmed in a canteen cup in a hot zone. The best part, as he pointed out. Was the fact that it could be eaten cold when needed, with no ill effects.
In today's yippy-skippy, politically correct world. Spam is looked upon with more disdain than a pedophile in a toy store. Folks who have never been hungry a day in their lives. Thumb their noses at such a repulsive food.
Me, I love the stuff.
But like most things in life. Moderation is the key. Even water will kill you if you drink enough of it. In the picture above. I sliced off a slab from the end about a quarter inch thick. And then chopped it into quarter inch cubes. Sautéd with the peppers and onions, then added into an omelette. It makes for a fine breakfast.
I think the can says two and half servings. We usually get 8-10 out of it.
In a quick glance of our pantry. One will see some cans of beans right and right next them, some cans of Spam. Part tribute to my dad, part because you can live on it for a long time. My dad was a much wiser man than I realized.
The best part?
The stuff can't go bad, it starts out bad, so where can it go!
***Knife content added, because, well, it's a knife forum.
Or Spam as it is more commonaly known. I feel spam deserves it's own post. Maybe even it's own thread, and possibly its own forum. Which it probably already has.
My parents grew up during GD-1, the Great Depression. My dad was born in 1928. So his formative years were tough ones. My parents looked at food much different than I do. They went without. If my dad got extra money. The pantry got filled. Not a boat,mflat screen tv or an ATV, food was first priotity.
He was also a Korean vet. He had an affinity for spam. He worked the docks in NYC before he went over to Korea. One of his early jobs was spending all day standing up 55 gallon drums. To this day, he is the only man I have ever met that can stand up two 55 gallon drums one on each side of him, with one hand on each, at the same time. I am sure others can do it. I just haven't seen it. I also have a picture of him doing a hand stand on the bars of a '47 Indian Chief, floating around somewhere.
He said after doing that all day. He actually gained weight when he went to basic, and even into Korea. He attributed that to Spam and beans. He drove that into my head at a very early age. Son, he would say. "You may not like it, but you can live on it for a long time"
If you think about it from a nutritional standpoint. It makes sense. Both Spam and beans offer up some protien. And the protien from the meat compliments the protien from the legumes. Both add in some carbs. The fat comes from the Spam And the beans finish off with some much needed fiber.
In reality, a pretty complete meal. Easily warmed in a canteen cup in a hot zone. The best part, as he pointed out. Was the fact that it could be eaten cold when needed, with no ill effects.
In today's yippy-skippy, politically correct world. Spam is looked upon with more disdain than a pedophile in a toy store. Folks who have never been hungry a day in their lives. Thumb their noses at such a repulsive food.
Me, I love the stuff.
But like most things in life. Moderation is the key. Even water will kill you if you drink enough of it. In the picture above. I sliced off a slab from the end about a quarter inch thick. And then chopped it into quarter inch cubes. Sautéd with the peppers and onions, then added into an omelette. It makes for a fine breakfast.
I think the can says two and half servings. We usually get 8-10 out of it.
In a quick glance of our pantry. One will see some cans of beans right and right next them, some cans of Spam. Part tribute to my dad, part because you can live on it for a long time. My dad was a much wiser man than I realized.
The best part?
The stuff can't go bad, it starts out bad, so where can it go!
***Knife content added, because, well, it's a knife forum.
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