SPAM-Fruit Cocktail Buffet Party Loaf!

contributed by DelMonte Co., via the internets

Newer readers of the blog (lots of new Facebook likes lately, keep 'em coming!) may be surprised to learn that, despite lots of flirtation with similar products, I've only ever made one recipe using America's favorite potted meat product, SPAM™.  The chief reason being that Dr. Husband has essentially forbidden its presence in our home, so I can only sneak it in when he's not looking. (He's also not fond of Miracle Whip, but I have to put my foot down about the really important things.)

SPAM™ has been in production for over 75 years, and recently (2007) sold its seven BILLIONTH can, so those like Dr. Husband hoping for its quick departure will have a bit longer to wait.  If you're able to just accept SPAM's supremacy forevermore, I'm sorry to report that the SPAM Museum is temporarily closed...but you can head on over to SPAM central and see all the remarkable things you can do with it while you wait for the grand reopening!

For all its versatility, this recipe came not from SPAM™ but from Del Monte brand fruit cocktail, "the fruit cocktail with character".  The colorful advertisement below proudly features a recipe that is "really different!  Ham and salad molded in one loaf!"

 The print is hard to make out, so I'll do the honors:

1 (15-ounce) can Del Monte fruit cocktail, drained (reserve syrup)
2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 (12-ounce) cans Spam luncheon meat, very finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, very finely chopped
1/4 cup green olives, very finely chopped
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 lemons
Paprika
Additional Miracle Whip

Arrange drained fruit cocktail in 9-by-5-by-3 inch loaf pan. In top of double boiler, mix reserved syrup with gelatin, vinegar, cinnamon, and cloves. Place over hot water and stir until gelatin dissolves. Carefully pour 1/2 cup of gelatin mixture over fruit cocktail. Place in pan in refrigerator and chill until gelatin has thickened but is not set.

Mix Spam with celery and olives. Mix Miracle Whip with mustard, salt, and remaining gelatin mixture. Add Spam mixture to Miracle Whip mixture and blend well. Spread over fruit cocktail. Chill until firm, at least 4 hours.

For garnish, make lemon cups by halving lemons, slicing off ends (so lemons will stand up), and scooping out pulp. Dip cut edges of lemons in paprika. Fill cups with Miracle Whip and sprinkle lightly with additional paprika.

To serve, unmold loaf onto large platter and surround with lemon cups. Makes 8 to 10 servings

This went together fairly quickly, the most time-consuming part is chopping the SPAM™. (I suppose I could have used the food processor, but I was afraid it would dissolve into a gelatinous goop or pink slime or somesuch.)

I went offsite for the tasting, so there would be others around to protect me from Dr. Husband's pork-like food product-induced wrath:

 Our Rating:  Three Screaming Husbands!

(all dishes are rated from one to five Screaming Husbands. One Screaming Husband equals a happy home where all problems are solved during cocktail hour. Five Screaming Husbands signals the beginning of divorce proceedings.)