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Brandied Baked Ham with Mustard Butter

Source of Recipe

From "Southern Appetizers" by Denise Gee


Recipe Introduction

"Tea sandwiches are fashionable for daintier affairs, but for luncheons and the like, rely on stacks of tender sweet ham, soft biscuits, and mustard butter. Here, brandy infuses ham with aromatic elegance enhanced by the liquor's fruity overtones. Refined creamy mustard nicely balances a ham's sweetness. You serve thinly sliced ham sandwiched in soft biscuits or rolls with the mustard butter on the side."

List of Ingredients

Brandied Baked Ham:
â—¦ 1 ½ cups packed dark brown sugar
â—¦ ¼ cup brandy
â—¦ 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
â—¦ One 5-pound bone-in half ham, fully cooked
â—¦ 1 ½ teaspoons whole cloves

Mustard Butter:
â—¦ 2 cups butter, softened
â—¦ ¼ cup grated sweet onion
â—¦ ¼ cup Dijon or Creole mustard


Recipe

To make the ham:
In a small saucepan, stir to combine the brown sugar, brandy, and mustard. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and, stirring constantly, cook until the glaze is thick and syrupy, about 3 minutes. (Watch carefully, holding a tight-fitting lid; if the brandy ignites, quickly cover the saucepan to tamp out the flame before removing the lid. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat just before serving.)

Preheat the oven to 325° F. Line a shallow roasting pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Score the fat on top of the ham by making diagonal cuts in a diamond pattern. Insert the cloves into the intersections of each diamond. Place the ham on the rack in the prepared pan. Insert a meat thermometer, making sure it doesn't touch the bone. Bake the ham for about 1 hour, or until the meat thermometer registers 125° F.

Remove the ham and brush on the brandy glaze. Return the ham to the oven and cook for 20 to 30 minutes more, or until the meat thermometer registers 135° F. Let it stand for 15 minutes. (The meat thermometer will rise to 140° F.)

To make the mustard butter:
In a medium bowl, stir to combine the butter, sweet onion, and mustard. Scrape into a serving bowl.

Cut the ham into thin slices and arrange them on a platter.
Serve accompanied with the bowl of mustard butter.

Serves 16 to 20