Ramona's W.VA. Devil's Delight

This is old-school Appalachian party food, the kind of spread that lived on West Virginia snack tables for decades. It builds on whipped cream cheese beaten smooth, then folds in canned deviled ham, a little condensed tomato soup, minced onion, and a dash of red hot sauce.

The tomato soup is the quiet trick here, lending a tangy sweetness and a soft coral color while loosening the cream cheese into a spreadable, scoopable texture.

The deviled ham brings a savory, peppery, salty backbone, and the hot sauce wakes the whole thing up.

Like a lot of cold spreads, it gets better with a head start, so chill it well before serving to let the flavors marry.

Pile it onto crackers or scoop it up with sturdy potato chips.

Pro Tips

• Beat the cream cheese until smooth before adding anything else so the spread isn’t lumpy.
• Make it several hours ahead, or overnight, so the flavors blend and deepen.
• Add the hot sauce gradually and taste, since it’s easy to overdo.
• Let it sit briefly at cool room temperature before serving for the easiest spreading.

Variations

• Stir in chopped pickles or pickle relish for tang and crunch.
• Add a little grated sharp cheddar or a spoon of horseradish.
• Pipe it into celery sticks or onto cucumber rounds for a lighter serve.