The Eight Days of Ham 

Day One

Yes, it's that time of year once again.

And this year my dear husband received not one,

but two hams.

So we will be having two Eight Days of Ham marathons 

in the next few months.

Fortunately, we now have a larger refrigerator,

so we can store one of the hams until spring.

By then we might - maybe - feel like

looking at ham again.

We started off with the smaller of the two hams.

This is a ten pound ham. 

The second ham is fourteen to sixteen pounds.

Both are bone-in, fully-cooked hams.

I decided to use this one first as it was spiral-sliced.

It came with a granular spice mix.

The directions said to mix it with sugar.

First I brushed honey over the outside of the ham

and then sprinkled the mix over the top.

Cover with foil and bake in a 325 degree oven

for 45 minutes.

Uncover and continue baking for 15 minutes.

Well, that's according to the package directions.

Why do I keep listening to the directions?

The ham never warms up in that amount of time.

Silly me.

Note to self:

come back and read this blog post

before cooking the next ham.

Meanwhile, I had made homemade creamed corn

by melting one tablespoon bacon joos (fat) and 

one tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet.  

Toss in two slices of fully cooked bacon that have been diced.

Add in two tablespoons of finely diced onion 

and saute for about five minutes over medium-high heat.

Add in about two cups frozen corn and heat through

before pouring in about two to three tablespoons

half and half or heavy cream.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Cook for about two more minutes before

removing from heat.

Add a bit of water to some of the spice and sugar mix

and heat in the microwave to make a glaze for the ham.

And Christmas dinner is served.

Simple but filling.

Thus ends the First Day of Ham.