The delicious aroma of Christmas
AS the holidays draw nearer, malls start to fill with last minute shoppers, and restaurants and hotels are booked for functions and parties. But there is another venue that is equally abuzz with excitement – the heart of every household, the kitchen.
Here, Christmas is heralded by the delicious aroma of both sweet and savory as enterprising individuals churn out edible goodies and homemakers start preparing their signature dishes to lay out on the table come Christmas eve.
Every hostess and homemaker knows that the table is not complete without a handsome roast as star and for years now, Swift Christmas hams have taken the place of honor among festive favorites.
There’s a Christmas ham for every type – from the classic bone-in ham whose secret lies in the bones that give it an extra juiciness plus a special mix of spices that give it a delectable smokey taste, to the traditional pearshape ham, whose shape and unmistakable taste of sweet and salty has become the staple of the season.
For a taste of the old world, the round boneless Jamon de Bola’s blend of Spanish seasonings will certainly evoke memories of Christmases past. Festival Ham makes the holidays sweeter with its sugar glazed and golden brown skin.
Meat lovers will enjoy the deboned ham, a sumptuous ham leg which is all meat up to the last bite. It is moderately cured with salt to capture the taste of traditional ham.
And as if living up to its name, thr noche buena ham completes Christmas dinners with its choice blend of spices and flavors and its unique sunset yellow sugar glaze.
With six varieties of ham, the possibilities are endless for entertaining or for sharing. Slices of each variant, arranged on a platter with cheese and fruits is a clever conversation piece during intimate gatherings with friends. At family reunions, the Christmas ham is a tasty filling to delicate tea sandwiches. Or top pasta and salad with delectable ham flakes or slivers to turn everyday dishes into culinary celebrations.
Christmas gifts more often come in the form of food that’s ready to share and enjoy. Friends and family will appreciate the gift of good taste, a package of Swift Christmas ham you yourself cooked. Or, share these recipes and see how they make Christmas ham a part of their own holiday tradition.
Pear-Shaped Ham with Fruit Sauce
Ingredients:
1 pc. Pear-shaped ham
1½ cups fruit cocktail syrup
½ cup brown sugar
¼ tsp ground cloves
½ cup water
2 tbsps cornstarch
2 cups canned fruit cocktail, drained
Procedures:
Peel off wrappings of pear shaped ham; slice into ¼-inch thickness. Arrange on a shallow baking pan; bake in a preheated oven at 325ºF for 20 minutes.
Arrange ham slices on a serving platter.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, boil together fruit cocktail syrup, sugar and cloves. Blend in water with two tablespoons cornstarch. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly. Add drained fruits. Simmer for one minute. Pour fruit sauce on arranged ham slices. Serve remaining sauce in a bowl.
Festival Ham with Peach Glaze
Ingredients:
1 pc. Festival Ham, fully thawed
1 can sliced peaches in syrup, cubed
3 tbsps Butterfresh margarine
½ cup packed light brown sugar
Procedures:
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place ham in a shallow pan lined with aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or (in a turbo broiler at 325ºF).
Slice ham into about ½-inch thick pieces and arrange on a serving dish.
Meanwhile, prepare glaze. Drain peach cubes and reserve three tablespoon syrup.
In a small saucepan, combine margarine, sugar, and reserved syrup. Cook over medium heat with constant stirring, until sugar is melted. Add peach cubes, heat through. To serve, spoon peaches over sliced festival ham.
Deboned Ham
with Apple Mustard Sauce
Ingredients:
3.5-4 k. Deboned Ham, fully thawed
brown sugar
½ cup apple jelly
1 tbsp. prepared mustard
1 ½ tsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
apples
orange
green grapes
cherries
Procedures:
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Remove stockinette and gently peel off skin. Place ham, fat side up in a shallow baking pan lined with aluminum foil; rub brown sugar all over fat surface.
Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until golden brown (If using a turbo broiler, set at 325ºF and bake for 30 minutes). Set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt apple jelly. Remove from heat. Whisk in remaining ingredients except apples, green grapes and cherries.
Cool at room temperature. Glaze ham slightly with apple-mustard glaze and serve remaining glaze on the side. Garnish as desired.