Apricot Glazed Gammon/Ham and sides for Easter

Saturday 26 March 2016

 photo DSCN6087_zps5mso2v5l.jpg

When I was a child Gammon/Ham was the centre piece of every Easter celebration dinner.  It was always served cold, thinly sliced, with mustard and mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side.  In all honesty as a child, I was far too full of chocolate and candy to really get too excited about Easter dinner.  There would have been a lemon pie for dessert though and that would have gotten me plenty excited.  (Its my favourite!)

 photo DSCN6088_zpsss8f5tsy.jpg

I had toyed with the idea of getting a leg of lamb this year, but the gammon was just the right price and so I went with gammon.  It was New Zealand lamb anyways, and so I didn't feel too disappointed about that.  Not that there is anything wrong with New Zealand lamb . . .  but I do prefer British lamb.  I cannot tell a lie.

  photo DSCN6089_zpsxf7aufn1.jpg

I am also a tad bit biased.  ;-)  Anyways, the gammon was cooked, covered, in a roaster in the oven along with a mixture of vegetables, stock and apple juice until it was tender.  I then skinned it and glazed it with a delicious apricot and apple juice glaze.

 photo DSCN6091_zps2ptnhwbe.jpg

Perfectly glazed . . .  nice and sticky . . .  tender, perfectly cooked meat.  What more could you want?  I added some scalloped potatoes, carrot casserole and peas on the side.

  photo DSCN6098_zps3mcz2zqj.jpg

*Apricot Glazed Gammon/Ham*
Serves 6 to 8
Tender ham with a lovely fruity glaze.  Gammon is uncooked ham.  Once it is cooked it becomes ham. Or so I am told.


2 kg boneless gammon/ham (4 1/2 pounds)
3 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 medium onions, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 eating apples, roughly chopped
500ml of apple juice (2 cups)
500ml water or stock (2 cups)
For the glaze:
4 TBS apricot preserves/jam
250ml apple juice (1 cup)
50g soft light brown sugar (1/4 cup)
50ml white wine vinegar (scant 1/4 cup)


 photo DSCN6099_zpsbhna9ivm.jpg

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5.  Put the gammon into a large roasting tin with a lid.  Scatter the vegetables and apples around the gammon.  Pour the juice and water/stock over all.  Cover tightly.  Place in the oven and roast for 20 minutes per 500g (1 pound)  plus an additional 30 minutes.  (A total approximately 2 hours)  Remove from the oven and turn up the oven temperature to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6.


Place all of the glaze ingredients into a sauce pan and bring to the boil.  Stir to dissolve the sugar.
Remove the rind from the gammon, leaving a layer of fat.  Cut the fat into a diamond pattern.  Pour the glaze over top of the gammon and return to the oven.  Cook until the gammon is glazed, basting it every 10 minutes with the glaze.  This will take a further 1/2 hour.  Take care not to burn the glaze.   Allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving.  Carve into slices to serve. Alternately it can be cooled completely and served cold.

 photo DSCN6078_zpsth65hnxa.jpg

The Carrot Casserole is a very old recipe that I have had for a very long time.  It goes perfectly with roasted meats of all kinds and is perfect for a holiday dinner.  Cooked carrots are mixed with a delicious sauce, covered in buttered crumbs and then baked until all bubbly and golden brown.  Fabulous!

  photo DSCN6095_zpsmlwxhoxm.jpg

*Carrot Casserole*
Serves 4 -6

This is a very old recipe which makes a great accompaniment to roasted meats, poultry and fish.  It's simmple and delicious! 

6 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into coins
110g full fat mayonnaise (1/2 cup)
1 small onion, peeled and minced
55g of creamed horseradish (1/4 cup)
2 TBS butter melted
2 slices of bread made into crumbs 

Put the carrots in a saucepan. Cover with lightly salted water.  Bring to the boil and then cook until tender.   Drain, reserving 60ml of the cooking water (1/4 cup) 

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.  Butter a casserole dish.  Mix together the reserved cooking liquid, mayonnaise, onion, and horseradish.  Put the carrots into the casserole dish. Pour the sauce over top.  Mix the butter with the bread crumbs.  Sprinkle over top. 

Bake for 20 minutes, until bubbling and golden brown on top.  Serve warm.

  photo goldsmooth241_zpstmlutwgc.png

These old fashioned Scalloped Potatoes are made just the way my mother and my grandmother before her made them.  No cream sauce needed, you simply slice the potatoes and layer them in a dish with sliced onion, butter, flour, and seasoning. (I like to add some grated cheese on special occasions) Milk is poured over top and then the dish is covered and baked until the potatoes are tender.  I like to add some buttered cubes of bread to the top.  They help to keep the milk from overflowing and add a nice crunch and flavour.  You will want to use full fat milk for this delicious dish!  I always buy in a special bottle of Jersey Full Cream Milk.  (That is the brand I use, up there.  It comes from Scotland and I buy it as Asda.  This week it was on offer for £1.)

 photo DSCN6096_zpsdrpwilkg.jpg

 *Potato Scallop*
Serves 4
Printable recipe



You'll see lots of versions of this recipe which call for the making of a bechamel sauce to cook the sliced potatoes in.  My mom never did this, and to be honest we never minded.  We always just loved them the way she did them.  I still think they are the best of all.



4 large baking potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 TBS flour
2 TBS softened butter
2 TBS finely chopped onion
1 TBS finely chopped parsley
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups whole milk



Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F.  Generously butter a large baking dish.  Place half of the potatoes into the dish.  Sprinkle with half of the salt, pepper, flour, onion, cheese and parsley.  Dot with half the butter.  Repeat the layer, ending with the remaining butter.  Pour the milk over top to cover the potatoes.  Cover with foil or a lid and bake for 30 to 40 minutes until tender.  Take off the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes to brown the top.  Serve warm.

Optional topping - one or two slices of bread, buttered and broken into chunks.  Scatter over top before baking and cover as above.
 

4 comments

  1. Looks like a feast! Happy Easter:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Monique. It was all very simple. We had our dinner a few days early because we will be at church half of Sunday and so will just have leftoves on the day! Happy Easter! xo

      Delete
  2. Looks so delicious! I printed out the Carrot Casserole recipe. Happy Easter from Kentucky, USA. Elaine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy Easter Elaine! I hope you have a lovely day! xo

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!