This post is sponsored by Sugardale Foods and SheKnows Media.

It’s the most exciting time of the year – at least for me anyway.  The holidays are upon us and it’s time to start planning for those big family dinners.   When I think of holiday dinner, I typically think of dishes that are easy to make and are ideal to feed a large crowd, which are large cuts of meat like roast or ham.   Sugardale® Spiral Sliced Half Ham checks all the boxes because it’s large enough to feed a crowd but it’s super easy to make and easy to serve thanks to the spiral cuts.   Sugardale® Spiral Sliced Half Ham is smoked over real hickory wood chips so it already has a ton of flavor! To complement the smoky flavor I topped it with a combination of the glaze that comes with the ham and a sweet and salty bacon jam that I made using Sugardale® hickory smoked bacon.  

I always like to do something different from year to year especially when I am preparing the same dish, so no two years do I serve the exact dish.   While bacon is great for breakfast, on sandwiches or even on top of salad, it’s also a great addition to the thanksgiving table. Sugardale hickory smoked bacon (their most popular variety) is made using Sugardale’s historic blend of spices that have been kept a secret for nearly 100 years!   It’s also available in other varieties such as thick sliced, extra thick sliced, center cut, applewood smoked, pepper, low sodium and pre-cooked ready; find out where it can be found near you by using the store locator by clicking here.    If you’re never had bacon jam then you’re missing out, it’s sweet and salty and packed full of bacon!  I used it for the glaze but I added a bonus recipe which shows you how to use it to create a simple appetizer as well.

Cooking for a crowd can be a daunting and intimidating task, so I will share a few tips on how to get this Bacon Jam Glazed Ham on the table without breaking a sweat.   The first step is to make sure there’s enough ham for everyone by estimating 1/3 to ½ lb of ham per person. This comes in handy when trying to pick out the perfect sized ham because it’s no fun running out of ham!  Another tip would be to prepare the bacon jam ahead of time; it’s good for up to 2 weeks if refrigerated. Cook the ham covered when cooking, this ensures that it doesn’t dry out. And finally, use a bit of the bacon jam to make the whipped goat cheese and bacon jam crostini so that your guests can have something to nibble on while they wait for dinner.  Now go forth with my recipes and tips and be great this holiday season!

Get the Recipe BACON JAM GLAZED HAM

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Ingredients
 

  • For the Bacon Jam:
  • 2 whole onions, finely chopped
  • 1 ½ lbs bacon, cut into small pieces
  • 2 tsp bacon grease
  • 1 tsp butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup maple
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 cup water
  • Pinch of ground clove
  • For the Ham:
  • 1 Sugardale® Spiral Sliced Half Ham
  • 1 ½ tbsp water
  • 1 tsp old style mustard
  • Zest of ½ orange
  • ¾ cup Bacon Jam
  • For the Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini:
  • Crostini
  • Olive oil
  • 4 oz goat cheese
  • 2 tsp milk
  • Bacon jam
  • Thyme leaves

Instructions
 

  • To make the bacon jam: place in a pot and turn the heat up to medium then cook while stirring occasionally until the bacon pieces are golden brown and crispy. Remove from the pan and drain. Reserve some of the bacon grease.
  • Place butter and 2 tsp of bacon grease in the same pot over medium. When the butter has melted, add onion and cook until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes.
  • Add brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, bay leaf, black pepper, water and cloves. Stir the mixture together then bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes until the mixture has thickened and the bacon is nice and soft.
  • Remove from heat and cool before using. This can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  • To make the Ham:Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place ham in a baking pan with 1/2 inch of water and cover ham with aluminum foil. Place in oven and cook for 15 minutes per pound. While the ham is cooking, make the glaze by mixing the glaze package that comes with the ham with water and bring to a boil while stirring. Remove from heat and add mustard, orange zest and bacon jam. When the ham has 10 minutes remaining, remove from oven and coat with bacon jam glazed. Turn the oven up to 425 degrees and then place the ham back into the oven (uncovered) and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool before serving.
  • To make the crostini: You can either use store bought crostini or make it by slicing French bread about 1 inch thick, drizzle with olive oil and place into a 350 degree oven and bake until golden brown.
  • Whip room temperature goat cheese with milk and olive oil until is light and airy; this should take just a few minutes.
  • Spread whipped goat cheese on crostini then top with a dollop of bacon jam and a few thyme leaves.
Author: Jehan Powell