Cooking Classics
The Technique
Bourbon-Orange Baked Ham
Baking a ham is one of the easiest main dish items that can be prepared when entertaining for a large gathering. Whether it’s your first attempt to prepare one or you are a well seasoned cook, everything you need to know in order to serve a beautiful looking & tasting ham can be achieved in your own kitchen. With a few valuable pointers, hosting a festive gathering can be manageable & enjoyable with a little planning & forethought so that everything runs smoothly. From equipment to safely serving guests, learn the basic fundamentals of baking a ham when entertaining.
Bourbon-Orange Baked Ham
makes 10 servings
6 to 7 lb bone-in ham
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, divided
1/4 cup bourbon
3 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp black pepper
12-oz ginger beer
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Score the ham at 1-inch intervals creating a diamond pattern on the skin side of the ham with the tip of a paring knife. Place the ham in a non-stick roasting pan. Stir together 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, the bourbon, the mustard & the pepper in a medium bowl & pour it over the ham. Pour the ginger beer & the orange juice into the bottom of the roasting pan.
Bake 30 minutes. Baste the ham with the pan drippings. Bake an additional 30 minutes. Baste the ham with the pan drippings. Remove 1 tablespoon drippings & stir it into the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar. Pour the mixture over the ham pushing it into the diamond pattern. Bake 30 additional minutes. Baste the ham with the pan drippings. Bake an additional 15 to 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 148 degrees.
FROM THE KITCHEN OF BUTTERMILK LIPSTICK
{testing notes}
How To Prepare Baked Ham
When purchasing a ham for a holiday meal, choose a size that will accommodate the number of people you plan to serve. Account for approximately 3/4 pound of bone-in ham per person as this amount will include the bone weight that is inedible leaving plenty of meat to serve each guest. You do need a few pieces of equipment to make the task easy & less cumbersome & conversely, there a few traditional tools that are not necessary. The key to preparing a beautiful ham lies in a little planning & preparation.
The Technique
The procedure to prepare a ham is relatively straightforward. A roasting pan & a chef knife plus a few additional tools will be needed in order to complete the task. Read through the recipe before beginning & pick up a few essentials well in advance. Get ready to make your best, most flavorful ham to date. Here’s what you should know.
No. 1
The Preparation
Begin the preparations by chopping & measuring items before you handle the ham for the sake of food safety. Fresh orange juice, bourbon, Dijon mustard & brown sugar offer delicious taste to a ham. Set these items aside, then use your chef knife to score the outer surface for a more pleasing look once it has baked.
Scoring the surface of a ham adds a decorative element & provides an opportunity to impart additional flavor into the ham. The basting process will enable some of those irresistible ingredients to collect where the ham has been cut & once fully baked, the surface will open slightly & reveal a lovely diamond pattern. Slice the ham at 1-inch intervals creating a diamond pattern on the skin side of the ham with the tip of a paring knife.
1a
Basting a ham is one of the elements that makes them so wonderful as the ingredients & pan drippings not only add flavor but they offer a beautiful sheen to the ham once baked. The mixture may appear unassuming at the beginning of the process but it will reduce down & create a concentrated syrup that will eventually coat the surface of the ham.
No. 2
The Baking
Remove the ham from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you plan to bake it. Remove it from the packaging & follow the recipe instructions to prepare it for the baking process. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Pour the ginger beer & the orange juice into the bottom of the roasting pan.
Bake the ham as directed according to the recipe instructions. There are a few key points to consider while baking a ham. Do not open the oven door excessively during the process as you loose valuable heat & extend the cook time. You can baste the ham several times but that is all that is necessary. Toss traditional basting tools away. It’s cumbersome & ineffective. A simple ladle will complete the task so it can be placed back in the oven quickly. Since the ham bakes at 325 degrees, you more than likely will not need to shield it with foil but if you find that it browns excessively, tent a piece loosely over the top of the ham. If you feel that the glaze is becoming too thick at anytime during the cooking process, add a little water to the bottom of the pan & stir the mixture until it becomes smooth.
Use a digital read thermometer to guide you to determine when the ham has been fully cooked. Probe several spots around the ham to get an accurate reading. Once the ham has been removed from the oven, continue to glaze it as it cools. The mixture will thicken slightly & adhere better. Allow the ham to rest for 30 minutes.
No. 3
The Presentation & The Serving
A beautiful presentation is easy to achieve by simply drawing from some of the items used in the recipe. Fresh herbs, fruits & berries that may be used for other recipes can further enhance the appearance. Just keep the design simple. Something as effortless as sprinkling a smattering of freshly ground pepper over the ham before presenting it to guests is a lovely addition as well.
The ham can certainly be carved table side but realistically, you may want to account for a little additional time in the kitchen to carve the ham on a cutting board using the proper tools & essentials. Sharpen knives well in advance so they are ready to use. A quality carving knife is ideal, however a good chef knife will complete the task as well. Arrange the ham slices on a platter with beautiful garnishes for an eye-catching presentation.
Store any remaining ham within two hours. If you do not plan to carve the entire ham right away, place it on a half sheet pan, cover with foil & chill. Place ham slices in zip-top plastic bags & chill. Consume within five days or freeze up to one month.
The Tune
“Joy To The World” Aretha Franklin
social butterfly
instagram: buttermilklipstick
facebook: Buttermilk Lipstick
twitter: Buttermilk Lipstick@ButtermilkLips
{college football} Rebecca Gordon@TidefanFare
pinterest: Buttermilk Lipstick
Rebecca Gordon
Be sweet.
No comments yet.