Baked Limerick Ham (Serves Many)
- 1 ham (3-5 lbs.)
- hard alcoholic cider, to cover
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 20 whole cloves
- For an Alcohol-free version, substitute a 50/50 mixture of apple juice and water for the cider.
- Cover the ham with cold water and bring slowly to the boil.
- Drain the water and replace it with the cider and return the ham to just before boiling.
- Reduce the heat and keep the liquid barely simmering for 20 minutes per pound of ham.
- (A 5-lb. ham is simmered for 11/2 hours.) Remove the kettle with the ham from heat and allow to stand in the liquid for 30 minutes.
- Remove the ham from the liquid, skin it and score the fat with a sharp knife in a criss-cross, or diamond pattern.
- Stud the ham with whole cloves at the points where the cross-cut pattern intersect.
- Mix the brown sugar and mustard together and rub well into the surface of the ham.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven for an additional 10 minutes per pound at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- (A 5-lb. ham should be baked 50 minutes.) Serve warm with plain boiled potatoes and brussels sprouts.
- Oh, and a shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey (optional).
ham, hard alcoholic, brown sugar, mustard, cloves
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/baked-limerick-ham-serves-many-20102 (may not work)