I remember as a little boy going grocery shopping with my late Mother. Back then she went to Farmer Jacks. Mr. Jack placed many interesting items at eye-level for someone my age to look at and ask if we could get it. The usual answer was ‘no’. I remember a few times she said ‘yes’ to Nestle-strawberry Quik and some cereals there were being flogged on Saturday morning. For the ‘yes’ items I suppose she was pleased I was ‘trying new things’ but I think she secretly hoped if I got them once I wouldn’t like them and lose interest. She was correct; these were usually a disappointment.*
I remember most were the products that looked intriguing but she wouldn’t buy, even when I saw it again and kept asking for it, like Hillbilly Bread. I tried a few approaches (bargaining and whining) but to no avail; she was inveterate against such purchases. I remember vividly Underwood deviled ham spread. I was fascinated by the red devil on the label. He resembled “Hot Stuff” which was a comic I was reading at the time. I forget the reason(s) why she would not buy it. In time I stopped asking either I connected the dots it wasn’t going to happen or I lost interest. All my life I’ve seen it in the grocery and I wondered what it was like. The same red devil kept calling to me to try it. A few weeks ago I saw him again among the tinned meats. I am sixty-two and I thought: I am going to try it. I put a tin into my cart while mother’s ghost raised her nose in that way she did when encountering something disgusting.
Someone questioned the purchase. By now he is used to me bringing home items not on the official grocery list. I explained the tale. He said I was welcome to have it all which is an indirect speech act to say he’s sooner eat rats at Tewkesbury than mystery meats. I forgot about it for awhile but remembered it yesterday so I got it down and opened it.
I wondered if Beelzebub (or someone like him) would come roaring out and say at last I got you! and drag me down to that level of hell where they serve lukewarm tea made from teabags and Anita Bryant records play nonstop. What I saw inside was a pink humongous wheel of meat the type one sees when opening a tin of very expensive pate de foi gras or Little Sheba cat food sold at a clearance sale. It had a slight ‘meat’ smell but it was not spicy. Apparently ‘deviled’ isn’t taken seriously or Lucifer doesn’t live in Arizona where ‘hot’ is taken seriously. It is spreadable rather than in chunks, again looking like cat food or imperial tidbit pate. Normally this sort of thing makes Harper come a-running to see if there is any for her but she did not do so. I toasted a bagel and spread some on and gave it a taste.
After sixty years I don’t know what I imagined it would taste like. It had a slightly salty sweet ground ham taste without any ‘spice’ at all. It wasn’t complex nor unpleasant. It was more or less ground ham or SPAM – easily created at home in a meat grinder and with proper spices including a good amount of chiles. It was a bit of a disappointment. Afterwards I read the ingredient label, something I never bother doing in my youth. The small tin has ‘two servings’ (ha!) which when eaten together more or less wraps up the day’s allowance for sodium and fat. I am curious to go on line to learn its history and are there recipes using such.
I am glad I did this although I don’t think I will buy any more. I hear the devil laughing at me for falling for a false hope. All the same I have the quiet satisfaction of empowerment that comes from getting something you were once denied by mother.
I wonder if they still make Hillbilly Bread or Quisp cereal.
Anyone else ever try this delicacy?
* I don’t remember any she obliged me to consume ‘you wanted it you are going to eat it”. Mommie Dearest she was not.
59 comments
April 15, 2024 at 3:57 AM
loriahawkins
I have seen this item but never tried it. Something about canned ‘meats’ really turns my stomach.
April 15, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Urspo
“Snouts” my fathers’ law partner used to call hot dogs and potted meats.
April 15, 2024 at 4:13 AM
Debbie W.
No, I have never tried this item, but I loved your story of badgering your mother to buy certain products when you were a child. This may be a nearly universal experience, although I will say that my son never did this when he was growing up. I have no idea why.
April 15, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Urspo
How did he turn out? Picky eater? not very curious? Does he set fires to public buildings? well over four feet?
April 15, 2024 at 9:22 AM
Debbie W.
hahaha he’s definitely well over four feet, and has never set fire to a public building! He’s always been a minimalist of sorts, and very undemanding, so if he wanted Quisp cereal or deviled ham, he must have kept those desires to himself. 😉
April 15, 2024 at 4:41 AM
Blobby
OMG. Farmer Jack’s Saving Time commercials on WJR. You took me way way back.
April 15, 2024 at 6:50 AM
Urspo
I still can see the old store with the Farmer Jack logo. It’s been long torn down. I should look up its history and when it went defunct.
April 15, 2024 at 4:54 AM
Sam
i sort of remember my mom getting a few cans if very on sale as back up filling for my dad’s sandwiches in his lunch box. These were always two, wrapped in waxed paper in his big steal lunch box with a thermos of coffee. I doubt that was a lunch he looked forward too.
April 15, 2024 at 6:51 AM
Urspo
My mother never made Father lunches; he ate out with his partners. Us kids came home for lunch, which was usually PBJ sandwiches or grilled cheese or spaghettios
April 15, 2024 at 5:10 AM
Anonymous
potted Meat, I think they call it! God knows what parts of the beast are left to make it. Not haute cuisine. I bought truffles the other day, I’m not impressed. I feel your pain 😈.
April 15, 2024 at 6:52 AM
Urspo
In Joyce’s “Ulysses” ‘potted meats’ was a euphemism for sex, particularly his wife’s infidelity.
I don’t think of Ulysses I think of The Jungle
April 15, 2024 at 9:56 AM
Anonymous
find me the male version of potted meat! Amazing what one will eat when famished😎DwightW.
April 15, 2024 at 5:14 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
Yes, we tried a can of it once when I was a kid. Only once though. It was pretty underwhelming in the taste department. Also expensive for what you actually got. But some people must like it because it’s still in production!
April 15, 2024 at 6:54 AM
Urspo
I too am fascinated to see things ‘still on the shelf’ that I never see anyone buying but there they are products apparently still in production.
April 15, 2024 at 5:16 AM
wickedhamster
The thing that always attracted me was that it used to (alas!) come with a paper wrapper around the can. No other canned product had the wrapper. And the cans were always small. A tiny can wrapped in a tidy white wrapper… it was love at first sight. I don’t know as I’ve ever tasted the stuff.
April 15, 2024 at 6:55 AM
Urspo
I remember that now you pointed it out! The paper gave it a certain eye-catching quality.
April 15, 2024 at 5:22 AM
David Godfrey
There was also a deviled chicken to complement it.
The ham is a little on the salty side, good on crackers.
For the chicken version, a smear of Miracle Whip compliments it, on whole wheat bread, not toasted.
As I recall, my first time was at my Aunt’s house on the lake, she would try anything, then my mother buying it grudgingly to get me to shut up.
April 15, 2024 at 6:57 AM
Urspo
I suppose it is a universal challenge of mothers to say yes or no to their children calling out for things they want at the grocery store. I see this still. Interesting! Uncle Albertsons now has tiny little carts for the munchkins to push. They have a flag ‘shopper in training’ attached to the carts. I wonder if the kids are filling up their carts with things at their eye level while mother isn’t looking.
April 15, 2024 at 5:35 AM
Anonymous
Yes. My mother bought deviled ham and potted meat. We would spread Blue Bonnet margarine on 2 slices of white bread, then cover it with said canned meat. Sliced into triangles and packed into our lunch box. Years ago I bought some to see if I still liked it. Not so much…
April 15, 2024 at 6:58 AM
Urspo
Blue bonnet margarine! I still can see the logo of the butter. I wonder if it is still available? Margarine was all the rage once upon a time. I cannot remember when I last bought any.
April 16, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Anonymous
Blue Bonnet is still sold, but I’m not going to go down memory lane and try it. I’ve moved on to real butter! “Everything’s better with Blue Bonnet on it”. I still remember the commercials. Didn’t we have some great commercials back in the day?
April 15, 2024 at 5:48 AM
Old Lurker
I am guessing the potted meat would have tasted better/more sinful had you eaten it as a child. It is a good mascot.
Excellent news: Both Hillbilly Bread and Quisp still exist! I vaguely remember the Quisp mascot, but did not remember (or realize) that the advertisements were created by the Rocky and Bullwinkle animation studio.
April 15, 2024 at 6:59 AM
Urspo
Really? Hot puppies! I wonder where they are available? I would like to get both. I used to love Quisp but hated Quake for reasons lost to me other than the ad-men purposely set up a partisan situation.
April 15, 2024 at 6:35 PM
Old Lurker
Quisp is apparently mostly available on the Internet, with occasional in-store appearances. It looks like Uncle Walton can set you up with Hillbilly Bread.
April 15, 2024 at 5:48 AM
spwilcen
Well, congratulations. You have completed an unconscious bucket item. And hurt no one, answered questions (while likely reviving a few questions long idle but awaiting answers). You are younger for having revisited youthful memories and will look at each day with a bit more natural and innocent curiosity. Well done! Now, it’s Monday. Step lively!
April 15, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Urspo
“tis Monday indeed. I am at the office getting the day set up. It looks like any other Monday, quite predictable.
April 15, 2024 at 6:24 AM
Autolycus
I’ve never seen it over here, but then, we have enough food abominations of our own. A plate of winkles on a Saturday afternoon..? Pease pudding…? Never again.
April 15, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Urspo
There is a long list of British foodstuffs I have heard of or seen in BBC programmes I would be curious to try. There used to be a fish and chips shoppe in town that had on its side a small store, which gave me the opportunity to try Irn Bru, and a popular sauce like A-!.
April 16, 2024 at 4:25 AM
Autolycus
You’re ahead of me when it comes to Irn-Bru (“Made in Scotland from girders!”). I don’t think I’ve ever had it – south of the border, my childhood fizzy pop was Tizer, but for all the guff about “secret formulas”, my guess is they’re all much the same. One thing that makes Irn-Bru distinctive is its reputation for controversial adverts – anything for publicity, I suppose.
https://irn-bru.co.uk/pages/our-ads
April 15, 2024 at 7:11 AM
edyjournal
Never tried it but I’m glad you did after all these years. I figured it was like pre-made tuna salad or chicken salad except made with ham/pork.
April 15, 2024 at 7:33 AM
Urspo
That’s about it. I thought ‘I could make this and better” but grinding up ham with whatever spices are at hand, add some binder and hey presto! homemade ham spread.
April 15, 2024 at 7:17 AM
rustownmom
My mother actually did buy these types of potted meats, along with Vienna sausages. She liked the roast beef version. Spoiler alert: It is nothing like roast beef. The salt and fat alone could send a small child into cardiac arrest. Its something you can say you tried now and Mother was probably right to deny it! (:
April 15, 2024 at 7:34 AM
Urspo
I believe Mother didn’t buy much based on my father’s tastes, which were limited. Neither one were fond of trying something new and adventuresome. I was all for it – still am.
April 15, 2024 at 7:32 AM
Robzilla
I couldn’t stop laughing when I read this. When I first moved out, I was on an Underwood budget when it came to making my own sandwiches. My ex-fiancee called it cat food! For giggles, I might have to throw a tin in the cart and make a sandwich out of it one of these days.
I hear Hillbilly bread still exists, yet another thing I had a lot of when I was a youth. Your best bet is to look at a place like Food 4 Less for a loaf.
April 15, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Urspo
I am very glad to hear I made you laugh. When I write making you/others smile/laugh is my main goal.
April 15, 2024 at 7:36 AM
rjjs8878
My mother would only buy Deviled Ham if it was on sale. It was considered a special treat. I tried again a few years ago. I was disappointed. I make much better ham salad.
April 15, 2024 at 7:57 AM
Urspo
I suspect just about anyone can make a better ham salad in the cuisinart or whatever you have in the kitchen to pulverize things into a paste.
Do you have a special recipe?
April 15, 2024 at 11:12 AM
rjjs8878
I make it up as I go.
April 15, 2024 at 8:51 AM
BadNoteB
What a fun blast from the past – made all the more vivid by wickedhamster’s reminder of the heavy, shiny paper wrapper on each can!
Deviled ham or canned corned beef (never, ever Spam, thank you) sandwiches and Campbell’s Vegetarian Vegetable Soup were daily staples in my Mickey Mouse School Bus lunch-pail for years before hot lunch programs arrived in our local public schools. Then overnight, like a jilted lover, they both disappeared from mind and menu.
On a lark, I revisited canned corned beef about a decade ago but, as BB King lamented, the thrill was gone. I keep the deviled ham in the pantry for use on the rare occasion I make canapés anymore.
April 15, 2024 at 12:12 PM
Urspo
I suppose nothing from our childhood tastes like it used to. Perhaps the ingredients changed over time. More likely the associations changed. Like Grateful Dead music it doesn’t sound so groovy just on its own.
April 15, 2024 at 9:32 AM
Sassybear
We feed this to Harvey as his main (but not only) food. It’s one of the only things he will consistently eat. It had been recommended by Walt of WCS when we were trying to coax Harvey to take his heart pill. I tasted it and it was ok but I wouldn’t intentioanlly but or eat it left to my own devices.
April 15, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Urspo
A testimony! I finally meet someone who eats it - and it’s a dog!
April 15, 2024 at 10:42 AM
Anonymous
Yes I am familiar with this brand, I do not know if it is still sold in Canada or not. I think I bought it once or twice, but my mom would not buy such items.
April 15, 2024 at 10:50 AM
Anonymous
For some reason I appear as Anonymous. Sheesh!!! Laurent
April 15, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Urspo
Next time I’m in Canada I must have a look-see.
April 15, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Anonymous
I have a recipe!
The shorter can still comes wrapped in paper label. I love this stuff but never eat more than one can a year. Daddy sometimes took it in a lunch with crackers. He is the one who inspired me to eat it as a child, but I rarely did because those were for his lunch.
As an adult, I spread it on a bun, thinly! First, I put mustard on the bun, then spread a thin bit of deviled ham, put slice of tomato on top, then American cheese. Grill under broiler and it is heaven. Mind you, I ate very little of this concoction. Spreading it thin and eating the tiny can over two days is the only way I have had it for years.
You can use long French bread, make this, slice it for a crowd.
I think it is plenty spicy and not at all good for a body. My portion at least is diluted with other foods. I did taste it once, a bit on the tip of a spoon, and I still like this wicked food.
Tommy refused to look at it, smell it, and certainly not taste it. He always refuses loudly. Just now, I told him not to get mad, don’t yell, but exactly why did he not like Deviled Ham. He said, with much emphasis and raised voice–because it tastes like shit.
He said that when they went fishing, he had to eat it. I had forgotten that Daddy took it fishing to eat with crackers. So, Tommy has eaten it and tasted it.
Normally, this food would repulse me. I suppose the happy memories of eating it while fishing linger with me. Now, I want to buy a can and make it on a bun, heated under the broiler. But, I won’t.
Practical Parsimony
April 15, 2024 at 12:18 PM
Urspo
We all associate foods (negative or positive) with certain settings and experiences.
Tut! Mr. Tommy is being intolerant. When one is offered something not desirable one says ‘no thank you’ and not raise a ruckus.
April 15, 2024 at 1:51 PM
Anonymous
I’ve never had it and never been tempted to try it. But I’m off to Google to figure out what hillbilly bread might be.
April 15, 2024 at 1:51 PM
Anonymous
Sigh…I’m not Anonymous.
Gigi
April 15, 2024 at 2:44 PM
Urspo
Always good to here from you Gigi
I can still see the plastic bread cover for this bread; I need to see if it has changed any since the 70s
April 15, 2024 at 7:57 PM
Anonymous
I think I bought deviled ham once or twice when I was a college student and was craving something meat like. The interest passed.
Will Jay
April 16, 2024 at 7:16 AM
Urspo
the interest in meat or in college?
April 16, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Cecilia Mary Gunther
sounds horrible – thank you for following the call of spam so we don’t have to!
April 17, 2024 at 6:58 AM
Urspo
I confess I like SPAM from time to time, usually friend with some eggs or chopped fine in a pasta salad. It’s loaded with fat and salt and who knows what so it isn’t a stable
April 16, 2024 at 1:49 PM
Robert
You really are a slow burn when it comes to impulse purchasing! I’m surprised you did not add hot sauce. In the UK of my youth we had potted meats, I imagine similar to your tin of disappointment.
April 17, 2024 at 6:59 AM
Urspo
Dammit I wish I could remember the name of the British ‘hot sauce” I once had. I would like it again. It wasn’t ‘American Southwest’ style but had its own unique flavor.
April 16, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Anonymous
I actually like potted meat, with a little sweet relish and mayo mixed in.Spread on white bread with three potato chips and you’ve got my summertime kid lunch. My ‘thing’ was sweet cereals. Brother and I were doomed to Wheaties (because they had sports stars on the box so they HAD to be tasty). My first purchase when I moved out on my own was Cap’n Crunch…..and the angels sang! Now, at the ripe old age of 67, I’m more inclined to buy Cheerios or sometimes (GASP!) shredded wheat. But I swear by all that’s holy that Wheaties will never cross my lips again!
April 16, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Anonymous
oops…forgot to sign in. This is Catrina56’s comment
April 17, 2024 at 7:01 AM
Urspo
You inspire me to do a blog entry on childhood cereal!
Have your people contact my people for reasonable attorneys fees. I advise yours to lock up the liquor mine are mean drunks.