Maple-Glazed Ham With Raisin Sauce

A huge maple-glazed ham is a showstopper on any holiday.

From Like Grandma Used to Make

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Ham was precious because it took so much of the hog to get just one piece of meat. So, women saved it for a festive occasion and then served it with a special company’s-coming sauce.

You will need
1 cooked ham, shank portion (4 to 41⁄2 pounds)
2 tablespoons whole cloves

For the maple glaze:
1⁄4 cup maple-flavored syrup or pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 tablespoon orange juice
1⁄8 teaspoon ground allspice
Dash ground cloves

For the raisin sauce:
1⁄4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
11⁄2 cups apple juice
1 cup raisins
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1⁄8 teaspoon ground allspice

What to do
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Score the top of the ham into diamonds, then stud the ham with whole cloves (tip, right). Place the ham on a rack in a large shallow baking pan. Insert a roasting thermometer in the center of the thickest portion without touching bone. Bake for 11⁄4 hours.

2. Meanwhile, to prepare the maple glaze, in a small saucepan, combine the maple-flavored syrup, butter, corn syrup, the 1 tablespoon orange juice, 1⁄8 teaspoon allspice, and ground cloves. Bring to a boil; remove the pan from heat.

3. Brush the ham with some of the maple glaze. Bake for 15 minutes more or until thermometer registers 135°F., brushing once or twice with the remaining glaze. Cover ham with foil and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.

4. Meanwhile, to prepare the raisin sauce, in a medium-size saucepan, combine the brown sugar and cornstarch. Stir in the apple juice, raisins, the 3 tablespoons orange juice, vinegar, orange rind, and 1⁄8 teaspoon allspice.

5. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture starts to thicken. Cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes more or until thickened. Serve the ham with the raisin sauce.

Makes 10 servings.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 11⁄2 hours
Standing Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition Information
1 Serving: Calories 258.
Total Fat 6 g.
Saturated Fat 2 g.
Protein 21 g.
Carbohydrate 30 g.
Fiber 1 g.
Sodium 1,121 mg.
Cholesterol 49 mg.

Scoring ham

1. To score the ham, use a small sharp knife to diagonally cut 1⁄4-inch-deep parallel lines in the top of the ham about 1 inch apart. Make another series of cuts at right angles to form diamonds.

2. Using your fingers, insert a whole clove in the middle of each of the diamonds. You may find it easier to pierce the meat first with the point of a skewer and then insert the clove.