Training: Body Balance
Today started as all good Wednesdays should start...with a 1 hour Body Balance class. We had a new instructor who took us through an intense yoga + pilates session, and I was feeling 100% stretched by the end.
Dinner
Tonight's dinner was the result of a 'challenge' by Kevin at Half Triing to cook with a rather unusual ingredient. Ok... so perhaps not an unusual ingredient as such, but certainly a rather unappetising one.
SPAM.
Yes you read that correctly. SPAM....in all its gelatinous aspic 'meaty' glory.
Ugh.
Just the thought of it makes me kinda ill.
But, not being one to shy away from a gastronomic tussle, I accepted Kevin's challenge, and here I am today. With a can of SPAM in my pantry and a challenge to cook something with it.
I must admit I was kinda stumped when deciding what to make. I had initially thought of a cabbage + apple combination (as those flavours work so well with pork, and after all, SPAM is allegedly pork right?). But then I came across a recipe for empanadas and was immediately intrigued.
SPAM empanadas? Why not.
Or perhaps emSPAMadas if you please? (hehe sorry - that one is groan-worthy...even for me...)
I started by preparing my filling.
Diced SPAM, onion, basil, carrot, peas, cayenne, oregano and tomato passata.
Sizzled until the spam had started to brown - then removed from the heat.
I did, however, cheat and buy GF puff pastry rather than make my own. *gasp* I know! The horror ;)
Cut into circles...
Filled with the SPAM mixture and a sprinkle of cheese...
Enclosed...
Brushed...
And baked.
And the verdict ???
Actually not too bad….
OK so the ‘meat’ still had a lingering SPAM flavour, but it was definitely mellowed by the herbs and tomato passata.
If anything, it was the pre-prepared pastry that let these down (it seemed too thick, but fragile at the same time?)
Served with parsnip fries and tomato sauce.
Will I make these again? Probably not. I don't think mentally I can get over the gelatinous aspect of SPAM. Oh and the fact it survives in that can, kinda indefinitely???
But as far as challenges go - this was a lot of fun!
What about you? Ever tried SPAM??
Happy Baking :)
Posts
Yes I have. :) (This kind of makes me feel guilty!)
ReplyDeleteIt tastes too salty though so it's not really something I would want to have often (e.g. just once a year)
Oh wow, you are brave!
ReplyDeleteI have never had it, probably won't either due to my now vegetarianism.
I have never, ever tried SPAM. Partly because my mum's allergic to ham, partly because, well... ew. :P I'd love to hear your thoughts on that pastry, though! Is it worth the splurge?
ReplyDeleteyou make spam look damn good! When we lived in hawaii, I accidently ordered spam sushi thinking it was tuna. Boy was I disgusted!
ReplyDeletehaha oh Lisa! You brave brave gal!
ReplyDeleteAWESOME!!! Your are the IRON CHEF SPAM!! EmSPAMadas? Have have to admit I giggled at that word but I like corny jokes. Freeze one and mail it to FL for me. :-) I like the idea of challenging you with new ingredients. What another challenge?
ReplyDeleteKevin
HalfTRIing.blogspot.com
Definitely not. And I highly doubt I ever will! Haha!
ReplyDeleteMy dad always used to make us SPAM and scrambled eggs for breakfast. It was definitely not my favorite. I don't think I'll ever eat it again. You get an A for effort though.
ReplyDeleteOh my. My dad used to eat those vienna sausages in a can all the time. But then again he also ate groundhog when he was little. You're a brave girl!
ReplyDeleteWow those look great. I need to hire you to teach me to cook. You sure are creative.
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA I thought you were kidding when I saw SPAM in your title. Brave. Very very brave.
ReplyDeleteYou are one brave woman!
ReplyDeletehehe, great way to use spam! not sure i'll ever try it, but you certainly braved it well :)
ReplyDeleteSPAM originated here in Minnesota, and I have to admit I have never had it! :)
ReplyDeleteThat being said, your emSPAMadas were really beautifully prepared! The pictures are gorgeous, and that was a really creative dish!
You are braver than I Lisa.
ReplyDeleteThe chocolate pastry from these guys is amazing though, but it's not puff. It's very disappointing if you don't get that great crunch and flakiness that we miss from 'regular' puff pastry. I've not found a decent substitute yet.
Whoa, you made SPAM look good! I never thought I'd say that :)
ReplyDeleteHahaha, I love how Koreans use it in their hot pots and how the Japanese have the Spam musubi. So yes, I secretly love Spam. Shhhh!
ReplyDeleteLisa my secret shame is that I love SPAM! I even love SPAM musubi sushi! :P
ReplyDeleteYou are brave, just the thought of SPAM wants to make me gag :P
ReplyDeleteI must say though, your creation does look good!