Heavenly ham roast

My husband loves roast ham. I make it often for him, but I try not to get too fancy with ingredients when it comes to ham, because it is just so nice as is, roasted in the oven.  I came across this recipe, and based on the reviews just had to try it.  I don't think I will ever try a different ham recipe again.  This is a keeper!

Old Fashioned Ham
with Brown Sugar & Mustard Glaze
recipe from Bon Appetit, March 2008

1 10-pound smoked ham with rind, preferably shank end
1 cup unsweetened apple juice or apple cider
1/2 cup whole grain Dijon mustard ( I used plain dijon)
2/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/4 cup honey

Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham in large roasting pan. Pour apple juice over ham. Cover ham completely with parchment paper, then cover ham and roasting pan completely with heavy-duty foil, sealing tightly at edges of pan. Bake ham until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of ham registers 145°F. Remove ham from oven. Increase oven temperature to 375°F.

Remove foil and parchment from ham. Drain and discard liquids from roasting pan. Cut off rind and all but 1/4-inch-thick layer of fat from ham and discard. Using long sharp knife, score fat in 1-inch-wide, 1/4-inch-deep diamond pattern. (I didn't do this since my ham was already spiral sliced.)

Spread mustard evenly over fat layer on ham. Pat brown sugar over mustard coating, pressing firmly to adhere. Drizzle honey evenly over. Bake until ham is well glazed, spooning any mustard and sugar glaze that slides into roasting pan back over ham, about 30 minutes. Transfer ham to serving platter; let cool at least 45 minutes. Slice ham and serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Egg nog cookies

Here is an old, old, recipe from from my nonna's collection!    Traditionally they are called lemon twists, lemon knots or in Italian "tarralli".  It is a moist cake like cookie but super simple, makes a whole bunch, and they freeze well.

I had egg nog left over from the holidays that I wanted to use up, so I made an egg nog version of this cookie, and let me tell you......I've been told they were the best cookies I've ever made! So,  I will leave you with both recipies, traditional and my version....egg nog!

Wishing everyone near and far a very blessed and happy New year.

Much love
Lucia
XOOO

Egg nog Cookies

In a large bowl or mixer combine:
1 Cup of sugar

1 3/4 cup of shortening

Whip these two ingreedients together until fluffy.  Then add in:

3 eggs

Slowly add in:


1 cup plus 2 TBSP egg nog (milk in traditional version)
grated zest of an entire lemon (traditional version only)

Then mix in:

5 cups  flour
5 teaspoons of baking powder

The dough should be slightly sticky, add more flour if you think it is goopy sticky though.

Preheat oven to 350 and using an ice cream scoop, place balls of dough onto parchment lined baking sheets.  bake for 12-15 min.  Do not overbake, these cookies are best, in my opinion, just baked with no golden edges, but bake them to your preference.

Once you remove them from the oven, let them cool for just a few minutes and brush on the icing while still slightly warm.


ICING

1/2 cup icing sugar
2 TBSP egg nog
1tsp rum


For the traditional version ICING

juice of one lemon (the one you just zested)
icing sugar
grated lemon peel, otional




These were the best cookies I made all through the holidays, and I made a lot of cookies.....

enjoy!