Best Pams Christmas Ham Recipes

PAM'S CHRISTMAS HAM

Steps:

• 1. Make the glaze. See recipe and ingredients above.
• 2. Place the ham on double sheet of heavy duty foil, place in a large roaster, and pour and brush about half the glaze over the ham. Fold foil over ham and seal well by folding over several times. Check your label on the ham for approximate "cooking/heating" time and oven temperature. ( I remember my temp as 325 and I think it took 2 or 3 hours)
• 3. Remove roaster from oven about 45 minutes before the ham is completely baked, open and fold back foil. Decorate with pineapple and cherries. Spoon the rest of the glaze over the fruit and return to oven to warm and brown the fruit. Serve.

CHEF JOHN'S MINI CHRISTMAS HAMS

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, cloves, and bay leaf together in a large container; stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. (See Cook's Note to substitute table salt.)
• Place celery, onion, and garlic in a blender. Add 2 cups cold water and puree until smooth. Pour celery mixture into kosher salt mixture and stir to combine. Add 1 quart of water, or more as needed, to make a total of 2 quarts of brine. Place pork chops in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 2 days.
• Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl and set glaze aside.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Remove pork chops from brine and pat dry; discard used brine. Cut shallow slits along the sides of each pork chop, about 1/4 inch deep. Cut a crisscross pattern in the top of each pork chop, creating small 1-inch triangles.
• Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over high heat. Cook chops in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Brush the crisscrossed top of each pork chop with about 1 tablespoon of glaze. Insert 3 whole cloves in the top of each pork chop.
• Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and roast pork chops until golden brown and slightly pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Remove pork chops to a plate and discard cloves.
• Using a small butane hand torch, brown the tops of the pork chops by making short passes over the tops with the flame not quite touching.