The vegetarians and vegans out there will want to take a pass on this one. The rest of us are good to go. Indeed, many people already consider roasted ham a holiday season tradition if not a New Year’s tradition. Maple glazed recipe ham is a variation on the more common honey glazed ham that substitutes — what else? — maple syrup for honey. Some versions also use wine vinegar, but we thought apple cider was a better fit.
1 country-cured ham
3 1/4 cups apple cider, divided
1/2 cup maple syrup
Whole cloves
Soak ham overnight in cold water. The next day, scrub ham with vegetable brush, and rinse.
Put ham and 3 cups cider in large pot, and add water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, and cook 15 minutes per pound. After ham has cooled in its cooking water, cut off heavy skin.
Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham in roasting pan, and baste with a mixture of 1/2 cup maple syrup and 1/4 cup cider. Bake 1 hour, brushing frequently with the syrup mixture. Remove ham from oven, score it diagonally with a knife in two directions, stud with cloves, brush again with syrup, and return to the oven for another 20 minutes.
See “New Year’s Menu” for more recipes.