Christmas Ham Food

CHRISTMAS HAM (JOULUKINKKU)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 100 - 125°C.
• Rinse ham with cold water and pat dry.
• Put in a roasting bag and cut a small hole on top of the bag. Push a roasting thermometer into the thickest part of the ham.
• Put the ham on the rack in the oven (or a cookie sheet with sides, if you prefer. IF the roasting bag leaks, you may have a big mess in your oven without the sheet!).
• Bake until the thermometer shows the internal temperature of the ham to be 75-80 C (juicy - well done). It will take about 45 - 55 minutes/1 kg (2 lbs).
• Remove the bag carefully: save some of the pan juice for making gravy. Remove the net (if there is one!), skin and as much of the fat as you like.
• Let ham sit for a few hours or to cool completely before coating.
• Preheat oven to 225°C.
• Mix mustard and honey and coat the ham with the mixture. Press dry breadcrumbs on the coating.
• Bake for about 10 minutes or until browned.
• Decorate the surface of the ham with cloves.
• Serve with gravy, boiled potatoes, root vegetable casseroles and boiled prunes.

CHRISTMAS HAM

Steps:

• Place ham into a large pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer ham for 1 to 2 hours. Cut away and discard any rind and visible fat.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Score the ham in a diamond pattern and place into a roasting pan. Stir Dijon mustard and brown sugar in a bowl until thoroughly combined; brush mustard mixture onto the ham. Press a whole clove into the center of each scored diamond shape. Pour peach nectar into the roasting pan. Combine pineapple and maraschino liquid in a small bowl.
• Bake ham in the preheated oven for 3 hours, basting frequently with the pineapple juice mixture and peach nectar.
• Arrange pineapple rings over the ham and secure with toothpicks. Secure a maraschino cherry in the center of each pineapple ring with a toothpick.
• Bake ham until browned, tender, and fragrant, 1 to 2 more hours, basting ham and fruit frequently with pineapple juice mixture and pan juices.

CHRISTMAS HAM IN THE SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Unwrap the ham, and discard the flavor packet. Place the ham into your insert (flat side down).
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the honey, mustard, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. Smear this paste evenly all over the ham. You can even do this the day before, if you'd like, to let the flavors meld, although it isn't necessary.
• Pour the juice and add the last little bit with the pulp into the sauce bowl and swirl it around to get all of the "good stuff" out of the bowl. Pour ginger ale evenly over the top. Cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for about 3 hours. (If using using spiral cut ham without the bone, it's better to cook it no more than 6 hours).
• Your ham can sit in the slow cooker for quite a while on the warm setting before carving, or you can take it out, carve it into pieces, then return it to the pot to stay warm in the yummy sauce until you and your guests are ready to eat.