COOKING A WHOLE FRESH HAM RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F If necessary, remove all skin, leaving a thin covering (about 1/4 inch) of fat.
• With a sharp knife, score a diamond pattern into fat and insert cloves to decorate. Place ham in a shallow roasting pan, fattest side up, with 2-3 cups water.
• Cook for about 15 minutes per lb., or until meat thermometer registers 140°F.
• Meanwhile, mix remaining ingredients for the glaze. During last half hour of cooking, raise temperature to 350F and brush ham liberally with glaze. Add more water if bottom of pan starts to burn. Repeat glazing after 15 minutes.
• When cooked, allow ham to rest 15 minutes before carving. Use leftovers for salads, sandwiches, or in a pasta dish., It can also be frozen for future meals.

Steps:

• Place a rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 425 degrees. Trim skin and excess fat from ham, leaving a layer of fat. Score ham all over in a diamond pattern of 1/2-inch-deep cuts about 1 1/2 inches apart.
• In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and thyme, pinching and sifting mixture until thyme becomes fragrant. Pat mixture all over ham and into crevices.
• Place ham fat-side up on a rack in a large roasting pan and roast uncovered for 1/2 an hour. Turn heat down to 350 degrees, pour 2 cups wine and 1/2 cup water into pan and loosely tent with aluminum foil. Continue to roast, basting every hour. Add water to pan, if necessary, to keep pan juices from scorching; bake until a meat thermometer pressed into thickest part of ham reads 155 degrees, about 3 1/2 hours.
• Let ham stand 15 to 20 minutes before carving. Pour pan juices and remaining 2 tablespoons wine into a small saucepan and simmer about 2 minutes. Turn off flame, add half-and-half, and serve with ham.