Thanksgiving 2020
Living in a pandemic since March has pretty much changed the course of what is “normal” We have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and spent the entire summer vacation in the house. And here we are November ‘20 getting ready to kick off the holiday season HOME!
While Stay at home orders and holiday regulations are the new buzzwords, my little family and I already intended to have an intimate dinner at home. Here is the gotcha! How does a girl who loves to entertain and host get that same joy with the folks she cooks for on a regular?
SWITCH UP THE CLASSICS!!
Our menu includes cherry/apple cardamom hand pies and this maple dijon glazed ham that is sure to please any crowd (minus the crowd because Covid) Enough chatting, you came here for the ham!
Ingredients:
1 spiral cut, bone in ham from my local Stop & Shop plus (1/4 cup water in baking dish)
Glaze:
1/2 cup Orange juice
1/4 cup Honey
1/4 cup Maple syrup
1/4 cup Brown sugar (I used light, you can use dark if you have it)
1/4 cup Stone ground mustard
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 TBSP Balsamic vinegar
1 TBSP Tennessee Honey Jack
1/2 tsp Black pepper
1/4 tsp Cinnilla sugar (dash of dacy seasoning) or regular cinnamon
1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp Paprika
1/8 tsp Kosher salt
1/8 tsp Allspice
1/8 tsp Cardamom
Step 1:
Mix together glaze ingredients and set aside
Step 2:
Place spiral cut ham, flesh side down in baking dish. Add the 1/4 cup of water to the pan and cover tightly. Place the ham on the middle rack of a 350’ degree oven for 2 -2.5 hours depending on the size of the ham. Most hams are already fully cooked, this step will gently reheat the ham low and slow and make the meat tender. No rubber ham formed against me shall prosper!
Step 3:
After 2 hours (or until ham has reached internal temp of 135) uncover the ham and carefully pour off the accumulated water. Increase oven to 425’ degrees and pour over half of the glaze onto the tender ham. Be sure to get all the nooks and crannies. Return to oven for 5mins. Baste again. Return to oven for 5mins. Baste again. (Since a theme yet) You should baste your ham for 15-20mins until glaze is bubbly and a beautiful caramel color on your ham.
Step 4:
Transfer your ham to its serving dish and try not to eat it before your guests arrive. Any remaining glaze can be reduced by half and poured over the remaining ham for more shine and yummy goodness!
ENJOY!
Notes:
Spiral cut hams may cook a bit faster.
Whole uncut ham may take 2.5 - 3 hours to cook. Create diagonal scores across the ham before putting it in the baking dish.