Ham Asparagus Gratin Food

GLAZED SPIRAL-CUT HAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or large roasting pan with foil.
• Put the ham cut-side down on the foil and scatter the onion pieces around it. Cover the ham loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the apricot preserves, mustard, molasses, Worcestershire, allspice, cloves, thyme leaves, 3 tablespoons of the vinegar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook, whisking, over medium heat until the preserves dissolve and the glaze is smooth, about 4 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, remove the foil from the ham and continue to bake, brushing the ham with the glaze every 15 minutes until nicely glazed and heated through, about 1 hour more. Transfer the ham to a serving platter, tent with foil and set aside while making the sauce.
• Pour the pan juices into a medium skillet. Add the broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Mix the butter and flour together in a small bowl until you form a paste. Whisk the paste into the pan juices and let the sauce simmer until thickened like gravy. Finish with the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Serve the ham with the sauce.

COUNTRY HAM CARBONARA

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and saute, stirring occasionally, until soft and starting to caramelize, about 20 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the spaghetti in the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions, about 8 minutes.
• Add the ham to the pan with the onions and garlic and cook until just warmed through, about 2 minutes. Whisk together the Parmesan, cream, eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and some pepper in a bowl.
• Drain the pasta and transfer to the saucepan with the onion mixture and toss well. Immediately stir in the egg and cheese mixture until well combined. Serve immediately.
• Adjust the oven racks to accommodate a large covered roasting pan. Fit the pan with a shallow rack. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Unwrap the ham and rinse it in cold water. Place it on the rack in the roasting pan. Cover the pan with the lid and bake for half the estimated cooking time (total cooking time is about 20 minutes per pound, so 6 hours to 6 hours 40 minutes total).
• Halfway through the estimated cooking time, add the sugar and honey to a saucepan, cooking over medium heat until smooth and the sugar is dissolved. Pour the mixture over the ham and continue baking the ham, basting occasionally with the drippings in the roaster. Check for doneness at the end of the estimated cooking time by inserting a meat thermometer at a meaty point (not into fat or touching the bone). It should register 160 degrees F.

CLASSIC PINEAPPLE-APRICOT GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• For the ham: Remove the ham from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Trim off any skin from the ham. Use a sharp paring knife to score through the fat in a diagonal crosshatch pattern without cutting through to the meat. Insert the cloves into the ham, placing them at the intersections of the cuts (you may have some cloves left over).
• Put the ham, flat-side down, on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1/4 inch water into the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the oven and roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 130 degrees F, about 2 hours and 30 minutes (about 15 minutes per pound).
• Meanwhile make the glaze: Squeeze the lime juice into a small saucepan. Add the ginger and pineapple juice. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Strain, then stir in the lime zest, apricot preserves and Dijon.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Pour half the pineapple glaze over the ham and brush to coat. If the water in the bottom of the pan has evaporated, add more. Return the ham to the oven and roast, basting every 10 minutes with the remaining glaze, until glossy and well browned, about 45 minutes more.
• Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before carving. Carve the ham into slices and serve.

WINNING DEVILED HAM

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Use as a sandwich filling or spread on crackers for a snack.

SPICY HONEY-GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lowest position; preheat to 350 degrees F. Trim off any skin from the ham, leaving a 1/4-inch layer of fat. Score the fat with a sharp knife in a 1-inch crosshatch pattern without cutting through to the meat. Place the ham flat-side down in a roasting pan and add the chicken broth to the pan. Cover with foil and bake 1 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the glaze: Whisk the honey, brown sugar, mustards, vinegar, hot sauce, thyme and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Remove 3/4 cup of the glaze to a separate bowl and set aside for serving. Remove the ham from the oven, discard the foil and brush with about one-quarter of the remaining glaze. Continue baking, brushing with the glaze and the pan juices every 30 minutes, until the ham is a deep reddish-brown and a thermometer inserted into the center registers 140 degrees F, 1 to 1 1/2 more hours. (Add 1/2 cup water to the pan if the juices dry out.)
• Transfer the ham to a cutting board and let rest 20 minutes before slicing. Serve with the reserved glaze.