Glazed Smoked Ham

From foodtv.com

1 large onion, quartered, root end intact
1 (5 to 7-pound) smoked ham (shank end)
3/4 cup apricot jelly
1/4 cup water
8 sprigs fresh thyme, stripped
3 tablespoons yellow mustard
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons molasses
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Pinch ground cloves
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Score the ham with a cross hatch pattern through the thick layer of skin and fat. Arrange the onions in the center of a foil lined sheet pan large roasting pan and set the ham on top of them. Bake for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, stir together the apricot jelly, water, thyme leaves, mustard, 3 tablespoons of the vinegar, the molasses, worcestershire, allspice, and cloves in a saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until the jelly has dissolved and sauce is smooth, about 4 minutes. After the ham has been baked for 1 hour, brush with the apricot mixture every 15 minutes for another 45 minutes or until nicely glazed. Transfer the ham to a serving platter, tent with foil and set aside while making the sauce.

Discard the onions, remove foil and pour the sauce into a skillet. Add the broth and bring to a boil over high heat. In a small bowl, mix the butter and flour together until you form a paste. Whisk into the pan juices and let sauce simmer until thickened like gravy. Finish with the remaining tablespoon of vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Thinly slice the ham and serve with the sauce.

I made this yesterday for our family's Christmas Eve dinner. It was really tasty and very juicy. I did not, however, make the sauce described in the last steps... I had too much burn going on in the drippings to even try. I put the ham on the rack area of my roasting pan--perhaps that was the problem.

Our feast was a success. We served the following:

Appetizers:
Knorr's Spinach Dip in Bread Bowl
Cheese and crackers
Bruschetta (I love to make this. Here's the link: Ali's Amazing Bruschetta)
Shrimp Dip (My SIL's husband made this...quite tasty)

Main Course:
Ham, described above
Sweet potatoes (made by my mom)
Scalloped potatoes (made by my mom)
Tossed salad (made by my grandmother)
Cranberry relish (made by SIL's husband)
Italian bread with roasted garlic and olive oil
Green bean casserole (It was my first time making this. It was good, but too many cream choices. Next year, I'll have to go with something lighter).

Dessert:
Raspberry Cheesecake Bars (tasty. Made by My Husband)
Mud (Made by my SIL)
Ambrosia (Made by my Grandmother)
Rum Cake (Brought by my Grandmother)

We had way too much food. My grandmother has this problem of bringing way more than she says she will and it ends up being things that the host doesn't want or have room for. I think one person ate rum cake, and even that was only a tiny slice.

I think next year, I will try to make a pie or keep some of the cookies I make in the house to serve on Christmas Eve.

I don't know how next year will go, since I will be working full time again. Hopefully it will be as successful as this one!