Comments:

Now is the time to be planning your Holiday Ham. Deciding to do a fresh or pre-cooked ham will determine the method of cooking. Either way, besure to add an extra dose of love to the ingredients for a very special holiday!

Assuming most people will choose to do a precooked ham, we are addressing the use of spicy sweet glaze. It CAN be used on a fresh ham, cooked ham or even a ham steak.

    1/2 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
    8 Tbs butter (1 stick)
    1/2 cup dark rum
    1/4 cup dark molasses
    3 Tbs spicy (or course-grain) mustard
    1 Tbs cider vinegar
    1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

Mix all ingredients (just prior to use) in a non-reactive saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir constantly while heating. Reduce heat, stirring and allow to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Apply to ham while warm.

Special Notes: Heat cooked ham in INDIRECT HEAT at 250° until center reaches 140°. Rotate so all sides face the heat and one side does not over heat and dry out. If the ham has a hard rind on it, now is the time to trim it off. Remove all but 1/4 inch of fat from ham. Score the ham (and into the meat about 1/4 inch) in diamond shapes. Now is also the time to add the spicy glaze to all of the ham with your fingers (if not too hot). Return to the indirect heat for about 30-40 more minutes. Watch closely and make sure it does not burn! Remove, allow to "rest" for 30 minutes before carving. Enjoy!

Enjoy.