The Easiest Way To Cook A Delicious Christmas Ham

1. So you want to cook a ham. Good idea. It’s going to be great.

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2. First step: Gather your ingredients.

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You will need:
1/2 cup whole-grain mustard
3 Tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup bourbon
1 5-8 pound half ham, butt portion, can be sliced or not

4. Score your ham.

Thin cuts all over the surface will help your ham absorb its glaze.

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5. If it looks like this, you’re winning so far.

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6. Make this simple but seriously awesome glaze.

Just mix together the whole-grain mustard, honey, nutmeg, and cloves.

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7. Pour it on your ham.

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8. And use your hands to distribute evenly.

This is not a time to be coy with your ham. Get in there.

9. Pack a layer of brown sugar.

A cup of brown sugar, to be exact — press all over to make sure it adheres.

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10. Sprinkle on some bourbon.

Use about a 1/4 cup. You can sprinkle it OR you can get fancy and put it in a spray bottle and mist your ham like it’s having a spa day.

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11. Bake the ham, uncovered, in a 300 degree oven for 20 minutes per pound. Baste occasionally.

Basting means taking the sauce that accumulates in the bottom of the pan and spooning it back over the mean to incorporate that flavor.

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12. Then use the ham drippings (aka what’s left in the pan) to make a sauce!

Strain ham drippings, and heat ham stock in a small saucepan over medium heat to boiling. Add 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/4 cup brown sugar, pinches of nutmeg and ground cloves, and cook until thickened. Let your guests douse their own ham with sauce. This is a personal thing.

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Here’s the full recipe all together.

Serves 8

For cooking ham:

1/2 cup whole-grain mustard
3 Tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup bourbon
1 5-8 pound half ham, butt portion, can be sliced or not

For sauce:

1 1/2 cup ham drippings or stock
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
Pinches of nutmeg
Pinches ground cloves

Score ham in a diamond pattern to 1/4-inch deep (if not sliced). Place ham on rack in roasting pan.

Blend mustard, honey, nutmeg, and cloves.

Using your hands, smear mustard mixture all over surface of ham.

Again using hands, pack brown sugar all over exterior of ham, pressing to be certain it adheres.

Put bourbon in a spray bottle, and mist brown sugar coating to barely moisten. You may not use the entire 1/4 cup. Alternatively, sprinkle your bourbon over the ham.

Bake ham, uncovered, in 300-degree oven for 20 minutes per pound, basting a few times during cooking.

Strain ham drippings, skim as much fat as you wish, and add ham stock to make 1 1/2 cups. Heat in small saucepan over medium heat to boiling. Add brown sugar and spices; cook until thickened and serve over ham at table.

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13. It’s going to taste so good.

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14. BUT FIRST: Your ham deserves a beverage (as do you), and you have some leftover bourbon.

This scenario calls for a punch.

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15. Your ham should get an introduction. Southern sherried shrimp will do nicely.

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16. And/or a few deviled eggs.

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17. You know what’s pretty good with ham? BISCUITS.

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18. Cut that ham fat with a little salad.

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19. See now you’ve earned some crispy, cheesy potatoes.

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20. Mmmmm collards.

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21. Maybe your ham deserves a side of cornbread pudding.

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22. …and pomegranate roasted carrots.

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23. No matter what happens, please do not deprive your ham party of a proper pie.

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