A Glazing How To

 Palm Sundy is tomorrow and Easter is next week>That means a table faturing a good roasted han in some households. This can mean a holiday treat especially if the ham has a good glaze that complements the meat's saltiness>

What is a glaze  any way?It comes from the French - glace au viande and it's usually made by reducing the meats juice's by a slow simmering over a burner. Doing this evaporates the juice creating a think gelatin that is brushed over the meat duing the roasting. The cut is then returned to the oven and lets the glaze to bake on. It's different with ham. Since the meat has no juice  being cured a glaze has to be made.What makes a good ham glaze For decades home chefs used brown sugar. This was usually just mixed with water and spooned over the meat.Between it and the cloves that were inserted into the fat , this give the hand that sweet flavor. Throughout the Twentieth Century home chefs experimented with everything from ginger ale and Dr pepper to orange juice and honey. What is the best? That depends on your  tastes. If you want a super sweet one then use any cola or ginger ale.A tangier one involves orange juice.

A glaze is easy to create. All you need is brown sugar, orange juice, honey cinnamon and cloves. It's boiling the first three to make a thin syrup and adding the spices later.Keep in mind that any glaze can be made as the ham is cooking. It should be spooned on or brushed for a more even coating ten to twenty minutes before serving. This still has the ham having tender meat but with a nice , crunchy crust. If you want to have a true Southern style ham then try a Dr. Pepper glaze. THis is combing the drink with orange juice, brown sugar and Dijon mustard, the last for cutting through all that sweetness. Again just cook the ingredients in  a sauce pan over a low flame. Can you use Coke or Pepsi? Yes! The taste will change slightly give the ham a caramel flavor.  Ginger ale glaze also is an interesting spin but a more intense and zingier flavor would come from using ginger beer (This can be bought at any grocery store).Use a deep golden honey and Dijon mustard along with some fresh ginger to emphasize the flavor.

A good ham is a holiday must Adding a glaze elevates this to  something special. Try either a traditional glaze or one with soda for a tasty Palm Sunday or Easter bite.