SPAM

[Radar]

I don't know how many of you know this but Hawaii is the world's number one consumer of Spam.

I was a casino craps dealer in Las Vegas for 6-7 years and one of the places I worked was the California Hotel downtown. The best craps in Vegas (World's longest roll without losing the Dice.) and they cater almost exclusively to Hawaiians. So when I was there I learned a lot about Hawaiian culture and people. They love spam bento, spam fried rice, spam musubi, etc.

So anyway today I was cooking up some spam fried rice for some friends and you'd think I was the star of Yan can cook. These guys think I'm a chef or something. While it's nice for the ego, I don't think it's that much of an accomplishment.

Do you guys have any easy to make recipies that make people think you're a chef? Perhaps some involving SPAM?

[xoxoxoBruce]

497-3000
Kent's
Hi. 2 large. 1 black olive, fresh mushroom and onion. 1 pepperoni.
Bye

[perth]

cilantro lime pesto. ill post the recipe later tonight or tomorrow. dead easy, but ive never seen a pesto recipe that was hard. the trick to making it look hard is in the presentation.

i saw a special about hawaiian cuisine on foodtv, and was simply astounded at how much they really do use spam. the spam fried rice you made, did it have pineapples in it? i saw some guy make that and was simultaneously repulsed and intrigued.

~james

[wolf]

My mom lived in hawaii in the 50s. The SPAM popularity has to do with the fact that it was/is hard to get fresh meats at reasonable prices on the island. Nearly everything has to be imported from the mainland.

[Radar]

i saw a special about hawaiian cuisine on foodtv, and was simply astounded at how much they really do use spam. the spam fried rice you made, did it have pineapples in it? i saw some guy make that and was simultaneously repulsed and intrigued.

No. I used sticky steamed white rice, fresh garlic, onions (green and yellow), spam, corn, peas, diced carrots, scrambled eggs, butter to grease the pan, pepper, and garlic salt.

I started with the the rice and the spam. After starting the rice with a little extra water (sticky rice works better), I removed the spam blocks from the cans and sliced it, cooked it, and then diced it (It's a good idea to put a paper towel or two on a plate and put the pieces of spam on it to absorb some of the grease and to let it cool off before dicing it). I got a few eggs and a little milk and scrambled them up in a bowl. Then I chopped up the garlic, carrots, and onions. I put some butter in the wok, and heated it up with the garlic, then I added the rice, spam, carrots, peas, and corn into the wok with the garlic and butter. I added some garlic salt and pepper for seasoning. Then I poured the eggs over the rice and stirred it until it was done. Pretty simple stuff.

For some reason the idea of pineapple in fried rice doesn't appeal to me. I'm not a fan of it on my pizza either.

I just spilled some and my puppy went nuts over it. I didn't want to make her sick or mess with her digestive system so I swept it up and she won't stop licking the floor. I think she likes it better than Iams dogfood.

I used to cook in Vegas before I was a dealer but rarely cook at home because I usually don't have anyone to cook for and because how often am I going to make prime rib, veal marsala, or shrimp scampi at home? My parents have been asking me to visit and cook for them too. But I think that's just because they want me to serve them but that's another story.

My mom lived in hawaii in the 50s. The SPAM popularity has to do with the fact that it was/is hard to get fresh meats at reasonable prices on the island. Nearly everything has to be imported from the mainland.

True, but I think since then it's become a cultural thing. They even have spam carving contests.

Anyway when I do cook for myself I like simple and quick dishes. Something that takes hardly any time and makes me seem like a pro. For instance I make the best steak many of my friends have ever tasted. I'm not just saying that. I've had many people tell me this. But the way I prepare it is fairly simple and doesn't require a lot of effort.

I think if I had more quick and easy recipies we could throw together a bachelor's cookbook. Guys that can cook impress women and also don't hook up with women for a home cooked meal. Also you can probably save money and eat healthier when you cook yourself versus eating out. Not that I'm touting spam as health food.

[Cam]

I was wondering what in the heck a thread entitled spam was doing in the Food & Drink section, I didn't see what e-mail had to do with this section. Yeah I'm slower than most, or maybe I just spend way too much time online.

Pasta is always a very easy meal to make and you can create some amazing meals and very low cost. Spaghetti, a can of spaghetti sauce, a few italian herbs to add to the sauce, and some italian sausage and your good to go.

[Cam]

How many of you have seen a Four Ingredient Cookbook. One of my friends had one and it had some really good meals. I told my mom she had to buy me one for next year since I'm finally getting out of the Dorms. I like to cook but most of the recipies I know are only useful if cooking for 20-30 people.

[perth]

Originally posted by Cam
How many of you have seen a Four Ingredient Cookbook.

yes! that entire series of books is excellent. i have never had a recipe from one of those books go wrong.

~james

[Radar]

I've never heard of that book but it sounds cool.

[perth]

im not sure cam and i are talking about the same book, but the one i use is part of a series of books, each devoted to things like chocolate, pasta, cookies, bread, barbecue, and chicken. ive seen some of them in barnes and noble on the discount racks and at the book section of sams club. if you can find them, they really are a great series of books.

cilantro lime pesto recipe, off the top of my head. a note on this recipe: use the freshest ingredients you can find, and if you can hand make good pasta, do it.

-1 cup cilantro leaves, no stems
-about 2-3 tablespoons sliced or slivered almonds
-2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil
-2 tbsp garlic
-2 tsp fresh lime juice
-1/2 c shredded asiago
-1/4 c chicken broth

stick it all in a blender and mix well. toss with linguine, and put in a bowl. arrange some cooked strips of chicken on top, put some asiago over that and set a couple sun-dried tomatoes on the side.

cant remember where i got the recipe, but i remember the first time i made it it was way too garlicky for my taste. the original recipe called for 3 tbsp of garlic.

~james

[glgraef]

Evidently another cultural group eats a lot of SPAM. My friend who is married to a Navajo and lives on the reservation says that they have renamed the Dr. Suess classic "Green Eggs and Ham" to "Powdered Milk and SPAM."