This is another recipe from my upcoming book, Empty Nests.
I need to start it by saying I love my mother, I really do. We have a good relationship, that’s gotten better since I moved out. And when it comes to special occasions she can cook. If you think my A&P baking was insane you should see her at Christmas. Literally hundreds of cookies. I’ve seen her set down a Thanksgiving dinner for twenty-five and a Christmas morning brunch for fifteen. Day to day cooking on the other hand is not one of her primary skills.
Every time my dad went on a trip and my mother took over the cooking the first thing she would make is Noodles and Spam. It involves Spam, cream of mushroom soup, and noodles. Usually served with peas. I always figured this was something she came up with when poor in college. I called her up the other day to confirm this.
“No. No. Oh, no.” Was the answer I got. “I learned that from your grandmother.”
Apparently Noodles and Spam is an actual thing. I’m guessing it was one of those war/post-war recipes designed to get good little housewives to use canned goods. Looking back on it a good deal of my grandmother’s cooking involved cream of mushroom soup. Soup on chicken breasts, soup on pork chops, and apparently when my mother was growing up, Cream of Mushroom Soup on Spam.
My upcoming book is dedicated to my parents (even though I’m not letting them read it because, sex), and Noodles and Spam puts in an appearance. So here it is, Noodles and Spam. Also a posh version of Noodles and Spam that doesn’t actually involve Spam.
1 can SPAM
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup (Campbell’s)
1 pack dry noodles – Use a wide egg noodle or large spiral noodles, something with structural integrity. DO NOT USE RAMEN NOODLES. Trust me on this.
1 onion if you’re feeling ambitious.
Pre heat oven to 350F/175C
Boil noodles and drain.
Chop and sauté one onion (if you want to)
Mix with noodles
Cut spam into little cubes
Mix with noodles
Open can of cream of mushroom soup
Mix with noodles
Put everything into a baking/casserole dish and bake for about half an hour.
Serve with frozen peas (heated)
Or if you don’t have the patience to bake just stir it all up on the stove until it’s warm and serve.
Now
Posh Noodles and Spam
1 Packet of Pork cubes or stake that can be chopped up. Or better yet some of that yummy leftover pork roast.
Mushrooms
Onion
Flour
Butter
Milk
Strong Noodle
Seasonal Green Vegetable
Pre heat oven to 350F/175C
Make a cream sauce, then set it to the side.
At the same time cook the noodles, making sure they are still just a little firm. Drain and set aside.
Chop the onions and mushrooms. Sauté the onions until soft then add the mushrooms. Cook until the onions are lightly browned. Add them to the cream sauce.
Cube the pork then in the same pan cook the pork or simply heat up the leftover roast pork. Add this to the cream sauce as well.
Mix in the noodles the place the whole thing into a casserole dish and back for half an hour until golden on top.
Serve with a seasonal green vegetable or salad.
And if anyone asks it’s Pork Shoulder in a Mushroom Cream Sauce over Pasta.
