Blue Over That Blue Label Ham.

Do you have a forbidden food? You know, something you really really like but can’t have? I have a whole class of foods just like that, which just utterly breaks my heart.

I’m allergic to pork.

It’s not a lifelong allergy. I didn’t start developing it until I got to be an adult. It’s progressed over the years to the point where I can’t eat any pork at all any more without serious consequences. Seem odd for a food writer? You betcha.

Thing is, I remember what it was like… all those things I’m missing. First thing that comes to mind is fried bologna. I always thought it was a south Arkansas thing, getting the guy at the deli to cut you inch thick slices off the Petit Jean bologna loaf in the case, taking them home wrapped up in white butcher paper. The smell of fried bologna in the morning just takes me right back to childhood.

There’s the bacon. Gosh, I loved peppered bacon. I loved it on a big thick piece of homemade bread with a slice of a fresh tomato and a dollop of Miracle Whip. Forget the lettuce. Crispy peppered bacon was the bomb.

And then there was ham during the holidays. Mom would cook the ham up in any number of ways -- with Jack Daniels at Christmas, with brown sugar at Easter, however it came. Leftovers would sit in a large Tupperware container in the fridge sliced up and ready to go into ham salad or a fist of a sandwich tucked into a plastic sandwich bag with the thinnest white bread. They never sat there long.

I’ve missed my Petit Jean hams over the years. I go places and smell the salty, sugary cure and try to get that flavor back in my mouth. I’ve written about Petit Jean’s operation up in Morrilton, how it’s been around since 1926 and how the Ruff brothers distributed it around the state. I cried one year back in the 90s when my boss gifted me with a Petit Jean ham for Christmas.

Thing is, you don’t have to be blue about Petit Jean’s blue label. You can be proud to enjoy a great Arkansas product that’s supreme quality. And if you’re lucky, you can win one. Drop me a comment below for a chance to win a Petit Jean ham for Easter. For a second chance, sign up to be a Facebook fan here. You have until midnight on Sunday, April 17th to make your entry. Winner will be notified and asked for an address on the 18th. Good luck!

Me?  I think I'll console myself with some of that fabulous Petit Jean peppered beef.  Man, that's good stuff!

*** UPDATE ***
The contest is now closed.  Stand by for the announcement of the winner.

*** UPDATE ***
The winner of the ham is Ruth Thomas. Thank you all for participating and stay tuned for other unique giveaways.