> > > This may have already been addressed in the "Hawaiian food" thread, but I'm not sure. My question: Who really likes Spam, anyway?
> > >
> > > Recently my teacher brought some Spam in, and he promised us extra credit if we'd eat one bite of it. Most of us still wouldn't do it, and those who did nearly spit the stuff out. So who eats this stuff anyway? Do people really like the taste of it, or is it just final proof that people will do anything to save a buck?
> > >
> > > -M"thinking about this way too much"el
> >
> > My grandfather fought in WWII, and he once told me that the invention of Spam was wonderful to those in combat. (Apparently whatever they were eating before was much worse . . .)
> >
> > Bal "hmm, er, uh" anthalus
>
> Here's my history lesson:
> I agree with your grandfather. I fought WWII on the homefront, because I was only 8 when they bombed Pearl Harbor. Fresh meat was rationed, which meant a small roast about once a week. But you could buy canned meat. Sometimes the only one available was Spam. I really got to like it and still do. Try this. Make macaroni and cheese. I recommed sharp cheddar. Dice some spam and toss it in before you put it in the oven. We used to do it on top of the stove when we went camping. Even then, it was good-stick-to-the-ribs chow.
>
> I barely remember the depression, but WWII is very fresh in my mind. We have it made now.
>
> Don't get me started on war stories. You'll never hear the end of them!
> Howard
>

Spam in the macaroni & cheese (boxed kind, unfortunately) was exactly how my mom stretched the meals to feed me and my two large and growing brothers. Honestly, it wasn't that bad. But when things were even tighter or she thought we needed vegetables or something, she'd add green peppers, too. Ick.

Mou"the fact that we HAD to eat it because we were poor always made me hate spam -- maybe I should look at my spam cupboard as half full, instead"sie