There's something wonderfully nostalgic about a homemade pan of macaroni and cheese, and this Spameroni & Cheese takes that comfort to a whole new level. Rich, creamy, and budget-friendly, it's the kind of cozy casserole that comes together using simple pantry ingredients, yet tastes like a true family favourite.
Tender elbow macaroni is folded into a velvety cheddar-Parmesan sauce, brightened with a kiss of Dijon and hot sauce or extra depth. Then comes the fun twist - savoury cubes of Spam throughout, plus sweet little glazed bits on top that bake into a golden, irresistible finish.
It's economical, comforting, and wonderfully homey. If you love easy casseroles with big flavour, this one is sure to become a regular in your rotation!
I think I was rather fussy as a child. I can remember a kid at school having Spam sandwiches and thinking they were gross. I would not even try them. It was not something we ever had at home, although we did eat plenty of bologna, which is not that different.
- 2 cups (8 ounces/230g) elbow macaroni
- 3 TBS butter
- 1/4 cup (35g) of plain flour
- 2 1/2 cups (590ml) whole milk, heated gently
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- splash hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp ground pepper
- 2 2/3 cups (330g) grated strong/sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup (45g) grated Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup)
- 7 ounce tin (200g) of Spam
- 1 TBS brown sugar
- Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Butter a 1 QT/1 liter shallow baking dish. Set aside. (My dish was about 2-inches deep.)
- Cook your macaroni in a pot of lightly salted boiling water, according to the package directions. Drain well and rinse. Set aside. (Don't skip the rinsing.)
- Melt the butter in the saucepan and then whisk in the flour. Cook for several minutes to cook out the flour taste. (An important step.)
- Slowly whisk in the warm milk. Cook, whisking constantly until the mixture bubbles and thickens. (Its important to keep whisking to prevent lumps.)
- Whisk in the mustard, hot sauce, black pepper and salt (remembering spam can be salty as can cheese).
- Mix the cheeses together and then whisk 2/3 of the mixture into the hot sauce to melt.
- Fold the cooked macaroni into the sauce. (It should be evenly distributed.)
- Cut the rounded ends from the Spam, cube them, and stir them in.
- Cut the remaining Spam into 1/3 inch slices. Reserve 4 slices for the top and cube the remaining Spam, stirring it also into the macaroni cheese. (Make sure everything is evenly mixed.)
- Turn into the buttered casserole dish.
- Cut the remaining slices of spam into halves diagonally and sprinkle each with some of the brown sugar. Place in a decorative manner on top of the mac and cheese. (I think this looks very pretty and makes the dish even more appealing.)
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over all.
- Bake the mac and cheese in the heated oven for 20 to 30 minutes until the cheese has melted and all is heated through.
- Serve hot and enjoy! (We enjoyed with some sliced ripe tomatoes on the side.)
Spameroni & Cheese
A delicious version of mac & cheese which includes the addition of spam. Rich, creamy and delicious. A real family pleaser.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (8 ounces/230g) elbow macaroni
- 3 TBS butter
- 1/4 cup (35g) of plain flour
- 2 1/2 cups (590ml) whole milk, heated gently
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- splash hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp ground pepper
- 2 2/3 cups (330g) grated strong/sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup (45g) grated Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup)
- 7 ounce tin (200g) of Spam
- 1 TBS brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Butter a 1 QT/1 liter shallow bakind dish. Set aside.
- Cook your macaroni in a pot of lightly salted boiling water, according to the package directions. Drain well and rinse. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in the saucepan and then whisk in the flour. Cook for several minutes to cook out the flour taste.
- Slowly whisk in the warm milk. Cook, whisking constantly until the mixture bubbles and thickens.
- Whisk in the mustard, hot sauce, black pepper and salt (remembering spam can be salty as can cheese).
- Mix the cheeses together and then whisk 2/3 of the mixture into the hot sauce to melt.
- Fold the cooked macaroni into the sauce.
- Cut the rounded ends from the Spam, cube them, and stir them in.
- Cut the remaining Spam into 1/3 inch slices. Reserve 4 slices for the top and cube the remaining Spam, stirring it also into the macaroni cheese.
- Turn into the buttered casserole dish.
- Cut the remaining slices of spam into halves diagonally and sprinkle each with some of the brown sugar. Place in a decorative manner on top of the mac and cheese.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over all.
- Bake the mac and cheese in the heated oven for 20 to 30 minutes until the cheese has melted and all is heated through.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Did you make this recipe?
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
- 1 cup (150g) stoned dates, chopped
- 2 TBS boiling water
- the finely grated zest and juice of one lemon
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- 2 medium very ripe bananas
- 1 TBS dark rum
- 6 1/2 TBS (85g) baking spread (something like Country Crock or Becel will do)
- 1/4 cup, packed (55g) dark soft brown sugar
- 1 cup + 1 1/2 TBS (170g) Sweetened Condensed milk
- 2 large free range eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups, less 2 TBS (225g) self raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup (115g) toasted walnut pieces (1 cup)
- Preheat the oven to 170*C/325*F/gas mark 3. Butter a 9 by 5 inch baking tin and line with baking paper. (Baking paper will help you to be able to lift it out easier when you are ready.)
- Place the dates into a bowl along with the boiling water, lemon zest, lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda. Stir and then set aside to cool completely. (Its important to let it cool to room temperature before using it.)
- Peel the bananas and put into a mini food processor with the rum. Blitz until smooth. Stir this mixture into the date mixture. (Mix to combine well and evenly.)
- Cream together the baking spread, brown sugar and condensed milk until smoothly combined.
- Gradually mix in the eggs and then the date mixture. (This will make sure everything is properly mixed together.)
- Sift together the flour and baking powder. Stir into the creamed mixture until well combined and there are no dry streaks of flour. (Most tea loaves don't need to be overly mixed but this one does require an even mixing.)
- Stir in the walnuts. Pour into the prepared baking tin. Smoothing over the top. (Ensures a perfect rise. Sometimes I will run a knife down the middle to help form an attractive crack in the center.)
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour 15 minutes, until risen, set and golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. (This is a dense loaf.)
- Let sit in the tin for 15 minutes before lifting out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into slices to serve with some softened butter. Store any leftovers tightly wrapped. (I love to let it rest overnight before slicing. You get much neater slices that way.)
Banana, Rum, Date & Walnut Tea Loaf
Moist and delicious and filled to the brim with sticky dates, crunchy walnuts and rummy bananas! Beautiful cut into thin slices and spread with softened butter. I like to let the loaf sit overnight for slicing.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (150g) stoned dates, chopped
- 2 TBS boiling water
- the finely grated zest and juice of one lemon
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- 2 medium very ripe bananas
- 1 TBS dark rum
- 6 1/2 TBS (85g) baking spread (something like Country Crock or Becel will do)
- 1/4 cup, packed (55g) dark soft brown sugar
- 1 cup + 1 1/2 TBS (170g) Sweetened Condensed milk
- 2 large free range eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups, less 2 TBS (225g) self raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup (115g) toasted walnut pieces (1 cup)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170*C/325*F/gas mark 3. Butter a 9 by 5 inch baking tin and line with baking paper.
- Place the dates into a bowl along with the boiling water, lemon zest, lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda. Stir and then set aside to cool completely.
- Peel the bananas and put into a mini food processor with the rum. Blitz until smooth. Stir this mixture into the date mixture.
- Cream together the baking spread, brown sugar and condensed milk until smoothly combined.
- Gradually mix in the eggs and then the date mixture.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder. Stir into the creamed mixture until well combined and there are no dry streaks of flour.
- Stir in the walnuts. Pour into the prepared baking tin. Smoothing over the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour 15 minutes, until risen, set and golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
- Let sit in the tin for 15 minutes before lifting out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into slices to serve with some softened butter. Store any leftovers tightly wrapped.
Notes
You can easily make your own self raising flour. For every cup of flour you need (120g) simply add 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt.
Did you make this recipe?
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
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