Baked Country Ham
1 precooked smoked ham with bone (16 lb.)
25-30 whole cloves
1/4 c. Dijon mustard
2 c. apple juice
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 c. tawny port
2 c. pitted whole dates
2 c. dried figs
2 c. dried prunes
3 bunches watercress, rinsed, patted dry, stems trimmed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel skin from ham and trim fat to 1/4 inch layer.
Score fat in diamond pattern. Line a large shallow baking pan with foil and
place ham in pan. Insert a whole clove into each intersection of the diamonds
and pat the mustard evenly over the top and sides of ham. Sprinkle the sugar
over the top and pour the apple juice into the pan. Bake 1 1/2 hours, basting
frequently. After putting ham in oven, combine the port, figs, dates and prunes
in bowl. Add the fruit and port to the pan after the ham has baked 1 1/2 hours.
Bake 30 minutes, basting frequently. Place ham on bed of watercress on large
platter. Gently stir fruit through pan juice. Arrange fruit around ham. Serve
sauce in gravy boat.
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