SPAM: Would Your Kids Eat This?

Spam. For today's generation it's an unwelcome sight in the inbox. For past generations, it's a yummy treat. In fact, since it was created back in the 1930s, more than seven billion cans have been sold world wide. Many of us grew up eating spam, but I suspect if the younger generation saw it in the grocery store they would think it is cat food.

I confess. I love Spam, although due to the high fat content, I tend to avoid choosing it as my meat of choice. But, I find that my childhood memories are leaving me craving a Spam meal.

There are many ways to enjoy Spam, but my favorite is to slice it thin- after scraping off the gross looking gelatin preserve- dipping it in an egg batter, rolling it in cracker crumbs, and frying it to golden brown. Yum, yum. It's also delicious with eggs, in macaroni and cheese, and potato salad. You can find more yummy ways to enjoy Spam on its official website, including  Spam breakfast pizza.

The next time I am in Austin, Minnesota, the home of Hormel, I plan to visit the Spam Museum. In fact,  I might even plan my next vacation to coincide with the annual City of Shady Cover SPAM Festival in Austin. It's a free family event featuring spam burgers, teriyaki SPAM kabobs, a rubber ducky race, live music, a pie eating contest and much more. This year's festival is on June 29th

Spam was especially popular during World War II. It was cheap and required no refrigeration. In fact, Spam became a standard K-ration for U.S.Soldiers. Today the varieties of Spam are endless including classic, black pepper, hickory smoke, with cheese, oven roasted turkey, jalapeno, and hot and spicy just to name a few.

So what about you?  How long has it been since you have enjoyed all the goodness that is Spam? What would your kids think about having a Spam meal tonight?