Thursday, April 7, 2011

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.

67 comments:

  1. I certainly wouldn't mind winning a ham!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sign me up! I love me some Petit Jean ham! (and bacon....)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love, love, love those Petit Jean hams! It isn't Easter without one!! They are soooo delicious...yummm. Sigh me up!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Petit Jean hams will always be the best hams out there.
    Loved your report & keep up the good work you lucky girl!!
    Sincerely
    Carol White

    ReplyDelete
  5. The best part about Petit Jean ham is aroma which you're waiting all afternoon for it to be ready. My mother would bake it extra long which intensified the flavor I think... and all the while I was enjoying the sandwiches, and ham salads I knew the best was yet to come_____ham bone with beans. *sigh*
    Suze

    ReplyDelete
  6. The bestest ham in the world? Petit Jean

    ReplyDelete
  7. The best part about Petit Jean ham is aroma which you're waiting all afternoon for it to be ready. My mother would bake it extra long which intensified the flavor I think... and all the while I was enjoying the sandwiches, and ham salads I knew the best was yet to come_____ham bone with beans. *sigh*
    Suze

    ReplyDelete
  8. I LOVE ham when it's cooked right! Don't think I've ever tried a Petit Jean ham. I'll have to do that sometime ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would love to have this ham for Easter. I invite all of my grown foster kids to my home for the celebration. Having an authentic Petty Jean Ham would take this gathering to a higher level.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Stomach surgery some 25 years ago ended up with me having a partial inability to eat pork--I cannot digest pork steak, chops, shoulder (for barbeque) or ribs, but have no problem with ham or bacon. (I also can't drink milk or eat ice cream, but can eat cheese and sour cream--weird!) So you have my sympathies. I think I'd have to be put in the looney bin with my Petit Jean ham and bacon. Thanks for a chance at a great giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I used to get a whole Petit Jean ham from my employer every Christmas. I'd love to get one from Kat this spring.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ooh ooh! Pick me! Pick me! I'd love to have a ham. I'm sure my family and I would enjoy the ham as much as we enjoy visiting the restaurants you recommend.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ooh, fried bologna sandwiches...I had my share of those. Used to want to pack 'em in my lunchbox, not thinking about how nasty they'd be by lunchtime.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The first time I tasted Petit Jean bacon, my eyes rolled back in my head as it seemed to melt in my mouth. If bacon can cause that reaction, I'd love to find out what a Petit Jean ham will do!

    ReplyDelete
  15. How very sad. A southern girl who can't eat ham. Does that mean you can't have good, REALLY good greens or beans or any of the yummy goodness that comes to mind? You are in luck! I volunteer to eat your share so you shan't worry about it any long. Just go ahead and ship the ham here. I promise to share with others.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Strangely enough, I hve found work-arounds. I love taking the carcass from a smoked turkey and reducing it and using the broth in my PurpleHull peas. There's turkey ham, which works in some applications. But it'd sure be nice if I could get to a point where I could eat pork again. I'd be so happy about that.

    ReplyDelete
  17. You certainly have my sympathy..during my year trial as a vegetarian I missed bacon most of all

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh I miss my now ex mil's peppered petit jean hams! I'm in!

    ReplyDelete
  19. an allergy to pork must be awful!! Ham and Bacon are two of my favorite meats...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Did someone say PORKKKKK!!! I hope I win!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. winning a ham would be a blessing. Are you sure it is the pork you are allergic too? Or the chemicals, nitrates, sulfates, etc, used to preserve the pork? Have you reacted to fresh farm killed pork? Guess I can't have a second chance - I'm already on a facebook like status...

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hey, Kat, some chiropractors do allergy work. My aunt is eating things now that she hasn't been able to eat in years and years, and she said it was because her chiropractor did specific type adjustments. Mine in Searcy does some allergy work, also, but I don't know what type.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love ham would love to hae one for Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Would love to try the ham and make sure it is as good as claimed.

    ReplyDelete
  25. would love to try ham and verify all the claims of goodness here!

    ReplyDelete
  26. that would stink, my condolences!! A ham would be great for my family!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I grew up in Conway County and still live here. I love and use all Petit Jean meats. I always look to see if a restaurant uses Petit Jean Meats. I'm proud that this National Institution is in the county I am from and I can tell people that with pride. I am happy I never had to be without Petit Jean Meats. I have a grandson now and I want to fix an Easter Dinner for my family. We now have 5 generations of Petit Jean Meats fans/lovers!! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I had several uncles who worked at Petit Jean Meats, so no holiday was complete without one of those beautiful hams. Even on Thanksgiving, it's my meat of choice.

    ReplyDelete
  29. We Love Ham and petit Jean is the Best and with it being an Arkansas Ham it is even Better Would Love to win one

    ReplyDelete
  30. We Love Ham and petit Jean is the Best and with it being an Arkansas Ham it is even Better Would Love to win one

    ReplyDelete
  31. petit jean meats are the best. i used to get a box of sausages as a xmas present when i worked at the cleaners

    ReplyDelete
  32. I would never post a comment just to get a delicious ham. Nope, not me.

    ReplyDelete
  33. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  34. wow,, how terrible that would be to never get to eat Petit Jean ham, bacon,bologna etc.. your description of fried bologna brought memories for me as well, grew up in So Miss and lots of fried bologna served up.. we always have a Petit Jean ham for Easter so winning one would be Great...

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm a fan on FB and follow the Time's Blog.

    Looking forward to an Easter ham.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'm a FB fan and follow your various review sites, especially the Time's blog.

    Please enter me in the running for the PJ Ham

    ReplyDelete
  38. This ham looks soooooooooo delicious!!! I have never tried it, but I really hope to!!! I also love reading about your Dye Travels here, & your "food blogs" on facebook...(I'm a fan) Very interesting, & yummy places you go to Kat Robinson! Oh did I mention... @eatarkansas? :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thanks for bringing back some of my childhood memories w/ fried bologna. I have never bought a Petit Jean Ham and would love to have one for Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thanks for bringing back some of my childhood memories w/ fried bologna. I have never bought a Petit Jean Ham and would love to have one for Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks for bringing back some of my childhood memories w/ fried bologna. I have never bought a Petit Jean Ham and would love to have one for Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I can not imagine the pain you go through from having to pass up a food you remember fondly and now can't eat. But at least you can still have wild boar on occasion, and turkey bacon is not bad.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Sunday is my birthday so I would love to win that ham! I live about a mile from the Petiti Jean plant and pass it on my way to work every day. Petit jean ham is a real Arkansas treasure.

    ReplyDelete
  44. A contest for ham! I'd like to enter, too. I enjoy your dining suggestions on KARN.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Love that Petit Jean ham ... and your blog, too!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Love Petit Jean ham ... and your blog, too!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Love Petit Jean ham ... and your blog, too!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Love how you have these great pictures with your articles. Like how you travel to different parts of the state!
    Cindy. W.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Petit Jean bacon is the best of the best. We bake it on a cookie sheet and it cooks up beautifully that way.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I love a good ham and would like to try this particular one since you seem so sad without it.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I would love to win a ham for Easter! I'm a facebook fan too.

    ReplyDelete
  52. My family still laughs about the time I visited Arkansas from Texas and my step-mother tried to convince me to carry a Petit Jean ham in my lap on my return flight. I did not do it, but it was very tempting.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I would love to win some Ham and then I will eat the ham and think about you the whole time. All I ask is that you eat fish on Easter b/c a few years ago, I became deadly allergic to fish and yet my mouth still waters for it. So I'll trade ya :)

    ReplyDelete
  54. I would love to win a ham. Mmm. Ham.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Oh yummy! I was just talking about how it's time to go get a ham! Petit Jean ham would be fabulous!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  56. Yumm, Ham! Thanks for the chance to win! I'm also a facebook fan!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Just moved to LR and would love to try this ham! Read you posts about your storm damage and hope things get better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  58. my preference is to win the powerball
    this would be a close 2nd

    ReplyDelete
  59. <3 Petit Jean ham. :)

    ReplyDelete

Be kind.