Old Time Ham Salad (For Sandwiches)

Yes, this is the REAL DEAL, folks -- this is the super great-tasting ham salad spread that you used to be able to buy at the mom and pop stores back in the '50s and '60s. It makes a lot but it will go fast. I could eat these ham salad sandwiches on sesame-seed buns with a little lettuce every day of the week. Don't use cheap bologna in this recipe or you'll be disappointed -- I like to use Kahn's Club Bologna. Also, you'll need some sort of meat grinder to make this -- a food processor does NOT yield a good consistency. I use my Kitchen-Aide Grinder attachment. Enjoy!

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 36
• Yields: 4 1/2 pounds ham salad

Ingredients

• 3  lbs ham, fully cooked
• 1⁄2 lb  bologna
• 1⁄2 lb American cheese
• 3  cups sweet pickles, drained and chopped
• 32  ounces mayonnaise
• 2  ounces pimientos, from a jar, drained
• 2  tablespoons  Karo syrup, clear corn syrup
• 2  celery ribs, ribs peeled to remove strings

Directions

1. Run all ingredients, except mayonnaise and Karo syrup, through a meat grinder. Add the mayonnaise and Karo syrup to the blend and mix with a spoon until ingredients are uniformly incorporated. Refrigerate.
2. Serve cold on fresh buns or bread along with leaf lettuce.