Spam, Potted Meat and Vienna Sausages

I grew up on this stuff. We weren't exactly what you'd call rich, but we never felt poor either. Yah, there were times when our hand-me-down clothes were nearly thread-bare and we were told we wouldn't get anything for Christmas because we just didn't have the money. But we always had a house with air/heat and electricity. We never saw Mom and Dad argue about money, or lack of it. And we always had food to eat.

Even if it was potted meat sandwiches. Mom would scrape out that little can and add enough mayonnaise to it that it somehow made 4-5 sandwiches. Tuna was another easy favorite. She made pimento cheese spread last twice as long by mixing mayo to it. And we loved it, my 3 brothers and I.

Even if it was Vienna sausages, cheese and crackers. Maybe make a meal with beanie weenies using the Viennas instead of hotdogs. Or add them to boxed macaroni and cheese.

Even if it was spam (the meat not the email) or treet. She could make that stuff stretch. We would eat it with macaroni and vegetables. We would make sandwiches out of it.

I look at the labels today: mechanically separated... okay, I won't type it all here. But I actually bought some. (Hey, I still like those little Viennas.) Today was the first time my children have ever tasted spam. My daughter tolerated it, my son wolfed down 3 slices, hardly slowing down to eat the macaroni and cheese I prepared to go with it. Oh, and I made a sandwich out of my serving.

Amazing how something so nasty can taste so good ~ to a toddler. Mind you, I won't be letting him eat this on a regular basis. No way! but if he likes it that much, then I guess it won't hurt for him to eat it, I don't know, maybe every couple of months. I won't make my little girl eat it so much. And I pretty much ate some just to set the example. I could see her nose turn up just at the sight of it.

Well, I guess this meal just brought back a few memories of my childhood. Did you ever eat it? Do you feed it to your kids?