DAILY DIRT: Anyone care for a Spam-filled doughnut?

You may want to plan to stay indoors on Dec. 31. Jus’ sayin’ … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 452 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Regular readers know how those connected with the daily operation of the Daily Dirt — which would be me — enjoy presenting disgusting food items from across and the country and around the world.

Today, however, we offer an entrée that might reach a new level for the gag reflex: 

Spam-filled doughnuts.

Oh yeah, they’re a real thing (to answer your first question).

The idea came to life about eight years ago, ABC News reported. It originated in England and has slowly worked its way around the globe.

While there are now several ways of presenting this concoction, here’s how the original emerged:

A ringed doughnut was split into sandwich-like form and a slice of Spam placed in between the two halves. The creation was/is then battered and fried to hold everything together. 

So, is this actually popular?

The Lancashire, England-based “chip shop” called Mister Eaters Fish and Chips, where this creation came to life, confirms this sweet and salty idea was and remains highly popular. (By the way, the Spam portion of the menu at Mister Eaters has expanded and now even includes such items as Spam fritters.)

“The idea for the Spam doughnuts just came out of nowhere and … I thought I could give it a try,” Mister Eaters owner John Clarkson told media outlets, adding that the wacky snack has “flown off of shelves” ever since.

2. Ever wonder what the coldest and most winter-like day of the year is for West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri?

Weather data over the past 26 years indicates that would be Dec. 31. That’s the day most likely to have the lowest temperature and most snow. Over that aforementioned tracking period, the average temperature on Dec. 31 is 23 degrees and with a snowfall of 0.4 of an inch. Must have been a few really warm days in that 26-year period to bump up the average temperature to 23.

3. The most interesting sports event of the weekend might be 7:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.

That’s why NCAA basketball powers Kentucky and Gonzaga collide, an early season matchup of top-five programs that may give us an early hint of March Madness.

Speaking of top programs, here’s my pre-Thanksgiving top five:

• 1. Houston: Interestingly, the Cougars won their first two games by identical 83-45 scores.
• 2. North Carolina: Still the best-looking uniforms in college hoops.
• 3. Gonzaga: Don’t worry about that loss to Texas. The Zags will be just fine.
• 4. Kentucky: More than anything else, I think the Gonzaga game will show us more what of to expect this season from Kentucky than anything else.
• 5. Duke: Admittedly, I’ve probably got the Blue Devils a little high at this point. Call it a projection.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — I am never eating a Spam doughnut. Never.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Spam is about the only thing that would stand between him and a doughnut.