Tender Quick Ham Recipes

FORK TENDER SLOW-COOKED BAKED HAM

Steps:

• Wash ham and pat dry with paper towels.
• Score ham with a sharp knife in a diagonal pattern. Repeat scoring, diagonally, in the opposite direction to create a criss-cross pattern. Randomly insert cloves at the crossings.
• Place the ham fat side up on a large enough sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil to securely wrap it. (The melting fat will baste your ham while it cooks.).
• In a small saucepan combine 1/3 cup butter, 3/4 cup maple syrup and the the next six (6) ingredients; cook over medium heat and bring to a full boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and cook one (1) minute.
• Brush ham with maple glaze. (Any leftover glaze can be warmed up and served with ham.)
• Lay orange slices on top, and place one slice of ginger on each side of the ham.
• Wrap up the ham; place in crock-pot.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for one (1) hour, then reduce the heat to LOW and contiune to cook for 6 to 7 hours, or until the meat thermometer registers 160 degree F.
• Remove the ham from the crock-pot; let sit for a few minutes before removing from the foil.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the apples, raisins, remaining maple syrup, vanilla and apple pie seasoning. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, or until apples are tender -stirring occasionally.
• Place ham on a warmed serving platter. Drizzle the juices from within the foil over the ham.
• Slice ham; serve with the apples.
• COOK'S TIP: The leftovers make delicious Monte Cristo sandwiches or split pea and ham soup. Another idea, cube the leftover ham and freeze it in 1-cup packages to use in casseroles.

HOME-CURED PORK TENDERLOIN 'HAM'

Steps:

• Put salt and sugar in a large nonreactive bowl (stainless steel or glass). Add boiling water and stir well to dissolve salt and sugar. Add peppercorns, mustard seeds, allspice berries, cloves, thyme and bay leaves. Leave to cool completely.
• Add curing salt and 1 cup white wine to cooled brine. Submerge pork tenderloins in brine. Place plate directly on top of pork to keep it submerged if necessary. Cover container and refrigerate for 5 days.
• Remove pork from brine and pat dry. Discard brine. Spread onions and thyme sprigs on bottom of a large shallow baking dish. Add brined tenderloins in one layer, then add 1/2 cup wine. Heat oven to 350 degrees; as it heats, bring meat to room temperature. Cover dish and bake for 45 minutes or until pork registers 135 degrees with an instant-read thermometer. Remove from oven (meat will continue to cook and reach 140 degrees as it rests). Let cool before cutting into thin slices. Serve with buttermilk biscuits. May be refrigerated, well wrapped, for up to 1 week.