by Toni-Marie Ramos

Created on: June 02, 2008   Last Updated: June 04, 2008

SPAM is making a comeback to the American table.

With rising gas and food prices, millions of families across America are looking for alternatives to make their budgets stretch. Due to the rising prices, the Hormel Foods Corp has seen a 14% jump in profits for SPAM, as Americans are searching for more affordable, budget friendly foods.

What is SPAM? SPAM is a canned, processed pork luncheon meat. SPAM is sold in variety of flavors - Regular SPAM, Lite SPAM, Low Sodium SPAM,Smoked SPAM and even Turkey SPAM and comes in 2 sizes - 7oz can and 12oz can.

Why SPAM? The average price for a 12 oz. can of SPAM is $2.62 for 6 servings. SPAM is budget friendly and there are many ways you can prepare SPAM. SPAM and eggs for breakfast, SPAM sandwich for lunch, or SPAM kabobs for dinner. With SPAM, the cooking possibilities are endless.

Try these tasty SPAM Recipes:

Hawaiian SPAM Burger
Servings: 4

Ingredients :
1 12 oz can SPAM of your choice, cut into 8 slices
1 8oz can pineapple rings, drained
4 slices American cheese
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted

Directions:
Brown SPAM slices in skillet. Place two(2) SPAM slices on each bottom
half of hamburger bun. Top with pineapple ring and cheese slice.
Cover sandwich with top half of bun.

Basic Baked SPAM
Servings: 6-12

Ingredients:
1 12 oz. can SPAM of your choice
Whole cloves
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Score SPAM in diamond pattern and dot with cloves. Mix sugar, vinegar, mustard, water and Worcestershire. Brush on SPAM. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, basting three or four times.
Note: This is a generous amount of topping, enough for two cans of SPAM at once, if you want to serve more.

Macaroni & Cheese with SPAM and Broccoli
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
1 7oz can of SPAM of your choice, diced
1 Box of Macaroni & Cheese Mix
1 9oz . box of Cut Broccoli, cooked

Directions:
Prepare box of Macaroni and Cheese as directed. Cook broccoli as directed. Brown SPAM in skillet and drain. When Macaroni and Cheese Mix is complete,
stir in broccoli and SPAM. Mix well. Serve hot.

How will you serve SPAM today?

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