How To Cook A Country Ham

Total Time: 53 hrs Preparation Time: 48 hrs Cook Time: 5 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 25
• 1 (15 lb) smoked country ham
• 2 tablespoons ground cloves
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• cider vinegar

Recipe

• 1 scrub ham thoroughly with a stiff brush.
• 2 place ham in large pot or pan--even a cooler will work. cover it completely with water and allow to soak for 24 hours, (discard water).
• 3 preheat oven to 325°f.
• 4 put ham in large roaster fat side up and again cover completely with water. place in oven on lowest shelf and bake for 2 hours. turn ham to other side and cook another 2 hours. it takes 4 to 41/2 hours in all or 15 to 18 minutes per pound for a good tender ham.
• 5 remove ham from oven, but leave in water overnight (do not refrigerate).
• 6 the next day preheat oven to 425°f.
• 7 remove and discard ham skin. sprinkle fat with ground cloves.
• 8 combine sugar with enough vinegar to make a paste and brush on ham. bake for 20 to 30 minutes; let rest for 1 hour out of the oven, then slice and serve.