Make it a Glazed Ham for Christmas Dinner

Christmas ham dinner is as much of a tradition in many households as Christmas itself. A search online will pull up probably thousands of ham recipes for Christmas but in many households Christmas ham recipes come from a much different source - that of a well worn handed down cookbook, piece of paper or tattered clipping from some long forgotten magazine that great grandma had.

One family didn't have anyone in the family who liked pineapple, but every year the Christmas ham was decorated with rings of pineapple attached with toothpicks before baking. I asked why and it was met with a chorus of "grandma made it that way every year - it's just how it's done!" The ham was tasty but it makes sense to embrace traditions and recipes that we enjoy, for whatever reason!

A basic baked ham allows about 1/3 pound per person with a little less for the boneless ham and slightly more for a bone-in ham (allowing for the weight of the bone). Place fat side up in roasting pan and insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. Make sure it's not touching bone or fat as this will thro off the reading. Bake at 325 until thermometer is 160F. For a 5-7 pound half ham plan on 22-25 minutes per pound. A full ham of 10-14 pounds can be adjusted down a couple minutes per pound.

Ham is easier to carve if allowed to 'rest' for 10-15 minutes out of the oven. You can glaze the ham by removing abut a half hour ahead of the time it's due to come out and applying the glaze. I like a brown sugar glaze made with a cup packed brown sugar, teaspoon dry mustard and tablespoon vinegar. Maple glazes are yummy too.

An easy glaze with maple can be made combining ½ cup each maple syrup and brown sugar with 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg. Whisk together and simmer over medium low heat for 2 minutes. Spread over heated ham about a half hour before done.

Even better is to 'score' the meat in a diamond pattern, cutting slightly into the meat and brushing the glaze into the cuts. Fruit glazes are also popular with some people.

Ham is a wonderful meal for the holidays or any time. Many wonderful meals can be made with leftovers should there be any. Consider a country ham this holiday season.