I am 100% certain my mom made this for one or more of her cocktail parties and now I know where she got the recipe. Although it looks like a fancy cake, this is actually a sandwich of sorts. The bread was sliced horizontally and ham salad, cheese salad, and chicken salad spread in between the layers, while the entire thing was “iced” with cream cheese. Once sliced vertically each piece had a cross section of potted meat salad. If you don’t read to the end of the recipe that’s ok, but I have to point out they expected women to pipe cream cheese tinted red or green or whatever into a festive decoration on the top of this once finished. I don’t think my mom did that. :-)

Holiday Party Loaf

2 6 3/4 oz cans Hormel chunk chicken or turkey, drained, flaked

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/3 cup pickle relish

1/3 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing

1/3 cup chopped pimiento

1 hard cooked egg, chopped

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2 1/2 cups shredded Kraft sharp natural cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 tablespoons green onion slices

1/2 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing

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1 6 3/4 oz can Hormel chunk ham, drained, flaked

1 8 oz can crushed pineapple, drained

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1/3 cup chopped peanuts

1/4 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing

1 tablespoon mustard

1 teaspoon ground ginger

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1 unsliced white sandwich loaf, 16″ long

3 8 oz packages Philadelphia brand cream cheese

1/2 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing

Red food coloring – optional

Combine ingredients for each filling separately, mix lightly. Remove crusts from sides and top of bread, cut i 4 lengthwise slices. Spread each slice with salad dressing and a filling. Stack lawyers, chill thoroughly. *

Combine softened cream cheese and salad dressing, mixing until well blended. Frost loaf, reserving 3/4 cup cream cheese mixture for decorating with pastry tube. Tint reserved cream cheese with food coloring, decorate and garnish as desired. Cover lightly, chill. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.

* Loaf can be prepared to this point, wrapped securely and refrigerated one or two days. Frost before serving.

12 servings