This is great! Recommended by @Seth. I have to say, I was the target demographic for these commercials. Thank you for the recipe. I HAVE made deviled ham before, and it's yummy! I don't know about the facemask though. I can only imagine how many times you heard, "Let's get Mikey! He won't eat it, he hates everything." in your own youth. Thanks for this. Love, Virg
Of course, I just realized I edited that part out of the post, since I thought it interrupted the flow.
My mother and father were up in 1st class on a flight home from DC when I was 8. She made her way back to her 3 children in steerage with a Virginia Slim between the fingers of one hand, waving a cocktail napkin in the other.
The boy who played Mikey was also in 1st class, so she got his autograph for me. She was so thrilled. I was so annoyed, I don't think I even looked at it properly. I just crumpled it up and handed it to the stewardess as garbage.
I am sorry, Michael. As a GenXer, I am so, so, very sorry. I will NEVER utter such words in your presence. You went through hell, sir and I wouldn't blame your aversion to Life cereal for life. - Seth ✦
I have not seen these little faces in a long time but I remember them all! Whatever those advertisers did back then certainly stuck in our minds. And I’d never thought about deviling ham - this sounds delicious!
When I was 4, I had a terrifying dream about Dennis the Menace and Jerry Mahoney (one of Paul Winchell's ventriloquist dummies) chasing me around the house and then turning into deviled ham. Make of that what you will...
As having endured that era in my childhood you brought back a lot of memories. I was so surprised to read about Rodney Allen King’s later life, what an oddball career he had. In my old blog I shared a unique broiled sandwich using deviled ham that I still make, and a deviled ham with more piquant flavorings.
Jamie’s jars are also just the right size and seal for bringing a bottled cocktail into the movie theater in one’s coat pocket. Although I do long for the original contents.
I am sorely tempted to make your deviled ham just so I can rustle up some Joan Crawford Danti-Chips - https://www.silverscreensuppers.com/joan-crawford/joan-crawfords-danti-chips-2 - I don't know how far from potted ham deviled ham is, but Joan was so fancy I am sure she would approve. I have never seen any of the ads you mention (being a Brit) but from now on I am going to call any smörgåsbords I come into contact with as borgåsmörds. Just to see if anyone corrects me. Love your stuff xx
No fra diablos for you?? Hmm. Well, it’s not like they are closely related to deviled ham or eggs and the like, which does beg some questions, and once I formulate them, I’ll be back to you! And Mason Reese, now there was a NYC person that for a time in my life was everywhere. 🤷🏻♀️
Oh, I love a fra diavolo as much as the next Half Italian-American. I think this great big melting pot of a country has room enough for all hellishly named dishes, don't you?
P.S. I'm sorry for any stress repeated Mason Reese encounters may have caused you.
I have so many instant reactions to your brilliant piece that I don't even know where to begin! Let's do bullet points:
-Does that little shit think that his bologna is the only bologna ever to be given a nickname? Mine has several nicknames. He really needs to get over himself.
-The Underwood logo is easily one of the top five greatest logos of all time.
-Progeria.
-I'm so happy that you found, at the confluence of so many memories, the inspiration to create a deviled ham recipe of your very own... and which looks fricking delicious!
Unlike your bologna, Andy's could be named on pre-watershed network television without upsetting the other sponsors.
Your mention of progeria broke my heart. To cheer myself up I turned the remaining portion of deviled ham into a meaty queso dip for some tortilla chips.
Dammit, now I got “‘Cause Oscar Mayer has a way with b-o-l-o-g-n-a” running through my brain. I hadn’t thought of that ad in years, and yeah, this Gen-X kid can still sing the whole damn thing.
I've heard the only way to get a song out of your head is to replace it with another one. I would like to suggest "I am stuck on Band-Aids, cuz Band-Aid's stuck on me" as a palate cleanser?
OK you know I slapped my forehead and dropped into my fainting couch when I read that. (The real issue is my extreme laziness - but I have an escape from that and a blessing in my 25 year old daughter who still lives with us and loves to cook and owns all the fancy kitchen appliances. I forward the email to her and ask her to make it and she will.). I just don't read cooking stuff Michael but I always read your essays top to bottom and really enjoy them - thank you so much!
That is high praise indeed, Betsy! My friend Jay (who is not much into cooking) called my old blog "A food blog for people who hate food blogs," which made me very, very happy.
This is great! Recommended by @Seth. I have to say, I was the target demographic for these commercials. Thank you for the recipe. I HAVE made deviled ham before, and it's yummy! I don't know about the facemask though. I can only imagine how many times you heard, "Let's get Mikey! He won't eat it, he hates everything." in your own youth. Thanks for this. Love, Virg
When my mother handed me Mikey's autograph on that plane, I felt so betrayed. After decades of therapy, I've managed to forgive both of them.
Of course, I just realized I edited that part out of the post, since I thought it interrupted the flow.
My mother and father were up in 1st class on a flight home from DC when I was 8. She made her way back to her 3 children in steerage with a Virginia Slim between the fingers of one hand, waving a cocktail napkin in the other.
The boy who played Mikey was also in 1st class, so she got his autograph for me. She was so thrilled. I was so annoyed, I don't think I even looked at it properly. I just crumpled it up and handed it to the stewardess as garbage.
I am sorry, Michael. As a GenXer, I am so, so, very sorry. I will NEVER utter such words in your presence. You went through hell, sir and I wouldn't blame your aversion to Life cereal for life. - Seth ✦
Nooooooo! Cinnamon Life is my favorite!
Truth be told, I loved Life cereal in spite of the commercial.
You did? That's a cool coda right here. - Seth ✦
Now you understand where I’m coming from. Thank you.
Oh god - I would have HATED that. Not kidding. - Seth ✦
I have not seen these little faces in a long time but I remember them all! Whatever those advertisers did back then certainly stuck in our minds. And I’d never thought about deviling ham - this sounds delicious!
I'd never ever considered deviling ham until writing this post, but it's actually good!
And they certain'y don't make commercials like they used to...
Can you devil angel food cake? Or would that negate it?
Yes. Frost it with creamy, spicy ham salad.
When I was 4, I had a terrifying dream about Dennis the Menace and Jerry Mahoney (one of Paul Winchell's ventriloquist dummies) chasing me around the house and then turning into deviled ham. Make of that what you will...
Personally, I think you could have taken Dennis down, but Jerry Mahoney was and remains terrifying.
All I got dream chased by were Tickle Ladies, who had super stretch arms, no faces, and wore control top pantyhose.
I can only apologize for triggering your pre-K trauma.
As having endured that era in my childhood you brought back a lot of memories. I was so surprised to read about Rodney Allen King’s later life, what an oddball career he had. In my old blog I shared a unique broiled sandwich using deviled ham that I still make, and a deviled ham with more piquant flavorings.
I imagine "Rodney Allen King" to be a complex mash up of Rodney King, comedian Alan King, and Mr. Rippy himself.
And that 10th place finish in the Compton mayoral race!
Jamie’s jars are also just the right size and seal for bringing a bottled cocktail into the movie theater in one’s coat pocket. Although I do long for the original contents.
Your father would be so proud.
I just hope I can get back to Chinon so replenish my jam stock.
I am sorely tempted to make your deviled ham just so I can rustle up some Joan Crawford Danti-Chips - https://www.silverscreensuppers.com/joan-crawford/joan-crawfords-danti-chips-2 - I don't know how far from potted ham deviled ham is, but Joan was so fancy I am sure she would approve. I have never seen any of the ads you mention (being a Brit) but from now on I am going to call any smörgåsbords I come into contact with as borgåsmörds. Just to see if anyone corrects me. Love your stuff xx
I just read your Danti-Chips post and now that is all I want. Mostly, I want a t-shirt that says "Danti-Chips" on it and nothing else.
No fra diablos for you?? Hmm. Well, it’s not like they are closely related to deviled ham or eggs and the like, which does beg some questions, and once I formulate them, I’ll be back to you! And Mason Reese, now there was a NYC person that for a time in my life was everywhere. 🤷🏻♀️
Oh, I love a fra diavolo as much as the next Half Italian-American. I think this great big melting pot of a country has room enough for all hellishly named dishes, don't you?
P.S. I'm sorry for any stress repeated Mason Reese encounters may have caused you.
I have so many instant reactions to your brilliant piece that I don't even know where to begin! Let's do bullet points:
-Does that little shit think that his bologna is the only bologna ever to be given a nickname? Mine has several nicknames. He really needs to get over himself.
-The Underwood logo is easily one of the top five greatest logos of all time.
-Progeria.
-I'm so happy that you found, at the confluence of so many memories, the inspiration to create a deviled ham recipe of your very own... and which looks fricking delicious!
Unlike your bologna, Andy's could be named on pre-watershed network television without upsetting the other sponsors.
Your mention of progeria broke my heart. To cheer myself up I turned the remaining portion of deviled ham into a meaty queso dip for some tortilla chips.
Dammit, now I got “‘Cause Oscar Mayer has a way with b-o-l-o-g-n-a” running through my brain. I hadn’t thought of that ad in years, and yeah, this Gen-X kid can still sing the whole damn thing.
I've heard the only way to get a song out of your head is to replace it with another one. I would like to suggest "I am stuck on Band-Aids, cuz Band-Aid's stuck on me" as a palate cleanser?
Oof, that’s nearly as bad! 😉
Oh honey, this sounds soooo good. If I ever make it I will not share it and I will not require Ritz crackers either.
I just discovered adding a thin spread to a grilled cheese sandwich is quite excellent.
OK you know I slapped my forehead and dropped into my fainting couch when I read that. (The real issue is my extreme laziness - but I have an escape from that and a blessing in my 25 year old daughter who still lives with us and loves to cook and owns all the fancy kitchen appliances. I forward the email to her and ask her to make it and she will.). I just don't read cooking stuff Michael but I always read your essays top to bottom and really enjoy them - thank you so much!
That is high praise indeed, Betsy! My friend Jay (who is not much into cooking) called my old blog "A food blog for people who hate food blogs," which made me very, very happy.