Bone-in-Ham and Ham Sauce

When it is time to start learning how to do the traditional holiday meals on your own, it can be intimidating!  So what do you do?  Call your mom, of course!  That is how I found out that a ham really isn’t hard.  It is easy, but you will be completely missing out if you don’t try making it like my mom and grandma.  This recipe turns a regular old ham into something you will be asked to make again and again. 

I talked my mom into teaching you what she taught me.  What better way to learn how to do it than from the pro herself!  I also roped my dad into taking photos of it since they don’t live by me – he did a great job, right?  Take it away mom (and just so you know, she is a cooking GENIUS and I’m not just saying that cause she’s my mom:):

“My name is Pam and I am a copy-recipe-a-holic!”

 I recently was asked to do a food demonstration.  My friend, Mary, who has had lots of my  “foodie” creations in the past, said, “Ooh, make that ham and ham sauce!”

So I brought my bulging categorized hanging file of recipes I’ve copied from Food Network and food websites to the demonstration.  Then I explained that with all of those tantalizing recipes, I was going to demonstrate “tried and true” ones – BONE-IN HAM AND GRANDMA’S HAM SAUCE.  I learned them from my mother-in-law and have been making them for special occasions for years.

BAKED BONE-IN HAM

6 – 8 lb. bone-in ham (ask butcher if you don’t see it)

1 cup (approximately) orange juice

2 cups (approximately) lemon-lime soda

1 cup of brown sugar

½ cup white vinegar

1 teaspoon of dry mustard

1 teaspoon of ginger

Stir together ingredients in roaster pan with a lid.

Place ham, fat side up, in roaster pan, and baste the juicy mixture over the ham. 

Cover and bake at 300 degrees for about ½ hour per pound (it’s not exact, and at the low heat, it’s hard to mess up but the key is LOW and SLOW!) Baste occasionally with the juices at the bottom of the pan.

 GRANDMA’S HAM SAUCE 

In medium saucepan beat together with a fork: 

1 egg

5 Tablespoons water

5 Tablespoons vinegar

 Then add:

 ¼ cup sugar

1 Tablespoon of flour

1 Tablespoon of dry mustard

¼ teaspoon (or to taste) celery seed

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

Cook and stir on LOW heat until mixture thickens. 

Cool completely to room temperature, covering with saucepan lid. 

Whip ½ cup whipping cream

When cool, fold in whipped cream.

 Chill and serve with ham.

This sauce MAKES the ham!  You HAVE to try it!  Try it and you may, try it and you may I say.

Thanks mom and grandma!  I hope this recipe makes your holiday meal extra special!