Culinary K’s Best Ever Ham Glaze

Everyone has their special finishing touches for important meals. These are the things that make the meal standout for your guests, or just your family. It can be a simple garnish or a fancy sauce like hollandaise. Some cooks don’t fuss too much with their presentation or the dishes they prepare. Likely the thought is that it’s too much trouble to bother. In fact, these little extras can take barely a few minutes of bother–something you do while you boil or steam vegetables.

Christmas and other holidays inspire a desire to do a little extra, even when we might feel the time crunch that dresses our dishes Plain Jane on other days. One of the most common dishes on Christmas is ham. How can you make it better than it naturally is? Try this glaze. Not all hams come with a glaze, or other dressing. The last ham my family made, I used this recipe to glaze the meat, which is a personal creation, and the compliments rolled in. I’m sure you’re family and friends will be delighted by the extra flavor this adds and ask what you did. It simply is delicious.

What you will need:

Small nonstick saucepan, wooden spoon, nylon spatula, brown sugar, cold water, butter, cloves, ginger, mustard (brown is best, like Gulden’s, but you can use yellow or even dried mustard powder), real vanilla extract (Madagascar Bourbon is great), honey and a smoked ham to glaze.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 TBSP Butter
• 1 Pinch cloves
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ginger
• 2 TBSP Mustard
• 1 TBSP Vanilla Extract
• 2 TBSP Honey
• Water (as needed to thin the glaze if it is too thick).

Directions:

When your ham is about 20 minutes from being done: combine the above ingredients in a small nonstick saucepan. Mix with a wooden spoon. The sugar will melt. If the sauce is too thick to brush on the meat, add small amounts of water (teaspoon at a time). Brush the glaze on the meat 2-3 times during the last 15-20 minutes of it baking. It may make crackling sounds, and this just fine!

If you have glaze left over and it’s enough to put out in a serving dish by the ham, you can do so. Some guests like a little more glaze than just on the edges. Not gonna judge.

Happy eating! Happy Holidays!