Hey, I am one of those rare people who LIKES fruitcake.
Back to Spam, last year I found spam cubes in little snack packs (at Walmart). I bought one and tried it. Not bad; not great. But the packet was just the right size for one meal. More expenive this way, but you do not have to worry about spoiling. It was in the aisle with those packets of tuna in a bag without the water.
We ate Spam when I was growing up. Quite popular in the 50's. Along with Velveeta, Jello, canned spaghetti. I think it was the era of fake food.
For those who think Spam is junk, I would say bacon is about the same. May taste better but still just a lot of fat and chemicals.
Registered: 02/12/15
Posts: 144
Loc: Western Pa, USA
At one time there were a lot of pouch choices - beef, sausage, ham. Apparently not popular enough to keep them going.
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Registered: 05/19/14
Posts: 182
Loc: Central Illinois near Springfi...
My mother used to get fruitcake for Christmas, but the one that she bought was mostly candied fruit and nuts with little cake. I always enjoyed that one, but wasn't so thrilled with some of the other fruitcakes. None the less, Logan Bread is very similar to fruitcake and I like it as trail food. A little brandy on Logan Bread might not be a bad idea.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
The fruitcake I used to make was mostly raisins, golden raisins, dried currants, nuts and candied cherries (I used some candied citron but not much). Lots of butter and eggs to hold it together, not much flour. It was very moist and heavy! It was supposed to be made about 6 weeks ahead and kept wrapped in layers of cheesecloth soaked in brandy. On Christmas Day I would warm it up and serve it flaming (more brandy!) for dessert. Although the fruitcake was big, it generally disappeared before Epiphany (January 6). I haven't even thought about making it since my kids left home, a long time ago.
It would actually make a good concentrated snack food for backpacking, in small slices, and (at least for me) without the brandy. I prefer to eat the nuts and dried frut separately, though.
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Wasn't it Garrison Keillor who joked that there was actually only one fruitcake in the US, and that one kept being re-gifted from person to person over the years?
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Registered: 02/12/15
Posts: 144
Loc: Western Pa, USA
Originally Posted By Barefoot Friar
Wasn't it Garrison Keillor who joked that there was actually only one fruitcake in the US, and that one kept being re-gifted from person to person over the years?
US? I thought it was the world! I understand that it was brought to the baby Jesus iby the fourth maji. Joseph left it behind when they went to Egypt, Herod found it and gave it to his wife, its been regifted ever since.
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Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intent of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, and loudly proclaiming Wow! What a Ride!
Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1228
Loc: Eastern MA, USA
Spam should hold up for several hours, IMHO. Until the seal is broken, it should be close to sterile, then you would need to try to contaminate it as little as possible. As already mentioned, it is loaded with sodium and precooked.
That said, you are looking at some new backpacking foods. Consider ordering a #10 can of Mountain House Rice with Chicken, which right now is selling at under $16 dollars. Stir and divvy the mix into 10 small bags. I use repurposed (clean) mylar snack bags, such as from potato chips. This particular meal has no veggies and too little protein, again, IMHO, but it makes a great base. Most of the MH meals that I have tried do rehydrate easily and well, and have plenty of sauce for flavor. Plan to add in more protein and assorted vegetables. I can easily think up combinations that could provide at least 10 (actually more, but I think there are 10 "servings" in the can.) Cook and dehydrate at least 2.5 pounds of ground chicken or ground turkey to add to your 10 little bags and buy or dehydrate your veggies of choice. I have a very nice dehydrator but have also had good luck with buying dried vegetables through Amazon's Subscribe and Save, and more recently from a small company called Valley Foods, who may still be featuring sales. Add some beans, maybe corn, peppers, and chicken or turkey plus some chili powder and cumin for "Santa Fe Rice and Chicken," Broccoli, and chicken, maybe with Parmesan for Chicken Divan, spinach, Parmesan, and chicken for Chicken and Rice Florentine, etc. You can easily come up with a lot of variations that are fast trail treats.
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