Please help me with Christmas ham :)
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Anonymous
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My in laws are coming for Christmas. My MIL always makes the same thing when we visit her for Christmas - ham. I get this is a traditional thing, but I'm not really a fan, and didn't grow up eating it myself! I'd love to make it, but in a more appetizing way (hers is the spiral with the glaze that comes with the ham). Want to honor her tradition, but also want to eat. Any good recipes for something a bit more elevated? (To be fair, my kids aren't big fans of the ham either, so I swear I'm not being a snob).
The bonus is that one of my SIL only eats salmon (like she will bring her own to Thanksgiving to cook instead of eating the turkey), so I would like to serve that as well. So my Christmas wish, for anyone who's bored today  is to develop a good menu with yummy ham, salmon, and good sides. Thanks in advance!!
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Anonymous
Well, I am no ham expert. I am with write Anne Lamott who called it “salty, pink eraser.” Your MIL is probably used to the Costco spiral cut which is pretty well- received when I have served to ham fans. Make it easy on yourself and keep your MIL’s ham and elevate it with sides like Ina Garten’s fennel potato gratin. |
Anonymous
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I don't like city ham, either. It's too sweet and has a spongy texture. You might prefer a county ham, which is saltier and firmer. I order mine from Burger's Smokehouse.
Ham and salmon are both pretty traditional. You can serve with the usual holiday sides. |
Anonymous
*Country ham. Not County Ham. |
Anonymous
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My favorite ham recipe, from Alton Brown (Good Eats.)
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/city-ham-recipe-2013153 |
Anonymous
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I am Southern and grew up eating country ham-or Virginia ham as we referred to it (preferably Gwaltneys or Edwards from Smithfield). I think it may be too salty as a main
course by itself. It’s delicious in biscuits, stews, crab dishes or wrapped around a piece of chicken. Your MIL probably prefers the sweet Costco type, which I agree is spongey. Just serve two entrees. The hams are cheap. |
Anonymous
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A lot of people obtain cooked hams - not sure where they pick up.
Get a pre cooked one, and you can cook a turkey. |
Anonymous
| "Elevated"? Dude, it's a ham. Serve an alternate main dish if you want something more "elevated." Just serve ham, salmon and some side dishes, and calm down. |
Anonymous
| Sorry, OP, but the spiral cut glazed ham is delicious. |
Anonymous
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My whole family loves this salmon recipe. The website is annoying but I usually quadruple the sauce and put it on a whole wild caught salmon fillet.
https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/buttery-dill-mustard-baked-salmon/#wprm-recipe-container-17381 And I would stick with the spiral ham if you’re having ham. It’s easy, which is probably why MIL does it. Do something more “elevated” with the sides. Or ditch ham and do a prime rib. |
Anonymous
This, except salmon instead of turkey. The Christmas fish. Wasn’t that an Everybody Loves Raymond episode? If you’re gonna make salmon because one sister likes it, then I think you should make the ham the way your MIL likes it, which is easy and delicious, instead of some alternative “yummy” way. |
Anonymous
| Get one from Honeybaked Ham. They're the best! |
Anonymous
| Why do you feel the need to serve her traditional menu when you will be in YOUR house? Serve what you like. Reflect your own tastes. Make your own traditions. That way, you can stop sneering at hers and being fake when saying that you want to make her happy. |
Anonymous
| Honey baked ham is pretty popular with my family. I saw a recipe for hassleback salmon that looks tasty! |
Anonymous
| Maybe make a pork tenderloin (not pork loin)? It’s still pork, but gives you a break from ham. |