Stretch meals further with a canned solution

Canned ham, or SPAM as it is often referred to because of the brand name option, often gets a bad rap.

It is viewed as a "struggle meal" and only to be consumed in the direst of circumstances. This stigma leads many to people steering away from the canned morsels all together and that is sad, honestly.

I myself don't mind the stuff.

I tried it because it has a long shelf life, so I can put some in the cabinet and if I ever need a quick meal or run short, it will be there for me.

However, while the canned meat is good on its own, adding it to other dishes can help not only elevate the flavors, but also stretch the meal further.

With the kids being out for summer now, this could be a benefit to parents/guardians. I know from experience how thin the groceries can be stretched during the summer months when everyone is at home. So, this could be a way to alleviate some of that stress and do so without breaking the bank.

Adding the ham to some potatoes and frying them makes a delicious hash.

This would be perfect for breakfast, especially before a long day of working outside or swimming.

Slicing the potatoes can also make a good scalloped potato dish. Adding the ham gives it a new texture as well as adding a new flavor to the mix.

Frying the meat with some rice is also an option. This allows the rice to go further as well, adding the texture and flavors of the ham to the dish.

So, don't knock the idea until you’ve given it a try. I mean, I would never have seen myself eating it, especially due to my very picky eating habits. But here we are.

So, if you can get past the stigma around canned ham, you might find something enjoyable on the other side.

CANNED HAM AND POTATO HASH

1/3 cup vegetable oil12 ounce can of ham, diced4 russet potatoes, peeled and diced1 small onion, dicedSalt and pepper to taste

■ Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.■ Add the diced ham, potatoes and onions. Fry turning occasionally until potatoes are tender and golden brown.

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH SPAMRecipe courtesy of lizoncall.com

1 packet onion soup mix1 can cream of mushroom soup1 ½ cans water6 medium potatoes (peeled and sliced like chips)1 (12 ounce) can of Spam (diced)1 cup shredded cheese

■ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.■ Mix soup and water together in a bowl.■ Place ½ of the potato slices in an 8-inch-by-8-inch baking dish. Pour half of the soup mixture over the potatoes and half of the Spam.■ Add the rest of the potato slices, soup mixture and Spam.■ Cover the top with shredded cheese.■ Place the baking dish on another pan in case it bubbles over.■ Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes.■ Make sure potatoes are cooked through.

SPAM FRIED RICERecipe courtesy of spam.com

1 (12 ounce) can Spam, diced2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided2 eggs, beaten¼ cup diced carrots¼ cup chopped green onions¼ cup frozen peas, thawed¼ cup chopped red bell pepper2 cups cooked rice3 tablespoons soy sauce

■ In a large skillet, heat one tablespoon of oil.■ Add eggs. Cook stirring to desired doneness. Remove from the skillet and set aside.■ In the same skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil. Cook the Spam, carrots, green onions and bell pepper for 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender.■ Stir in rice and eggs. Sprinkle it with soy sauce. Heat thoroughly.■ Garnish as desired with additional green onion.

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