Easter Dinner

Tonight was a test - my first holiday meal as a "First Time Chef". I've never really appreciated grandmas or others that prepare for big days like this, but now I know the pressure that comes with the responsibility. It makes you check the recipe 4 or 5 times and always second guess every step of the way.

So for my first Holiday I tackled a lot - baked ham, sweet potato casserole, and baked mac n' cheese (I also used frozen corn for a side and had some desserts as well).

Overview:

This was probably the most complicated meal I have made yet. There were a lot of different pieces that came together all at the same time. Luckily, I had already made the baked mac n' cheese so I felt pretty confident in how that would turn out. The ham and sweet potato casserole were new territory though.

Recipe:

Ham & Glaze

• 1 9-to-10-pound bone-in fully cooked smoked ham
• 2 tablespoons whole cloves
• 4 cups apple cider
• 1 cup apple jelly
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup mustard
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

Remove the ham from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Trim off any skin from the ham. Use a sharp paring knife to score through the fat in a diagonal crosshatch pattern without cutting through to the meat. Insert the cloves into the ham (if using), placing them at the intersections of the cuts.

Put the ham, flat-side down, on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour 1/4 inch water into the bottom of the pan. Transfer to the oven and roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham registers 130 degrees F, about 2 hours, 30 minutes (about 15 minutes per pound).

Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Pour half of the glaze (see below for glazes) over the ham and brush to coat. If the water in the bottom of the pan has evaporated, add more. Return the ham to the oven and roast, basting every 10 minutes with the remaining glaze, until glossy and well browned, about 45 more minutes.

Sweet Potato Casserole:

Recipe:

6 mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 stick of butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 Cup brown sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 dozen marshmallows

Directions:

Butter a casserole or baking dish.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 2 tablespoons of melted butter, honey or sugar, mashed sweet potatoes, egg and salt.


When mixture is smooth, transfer to the casserole dish. Dot with 2 tablespoons of butter and top with the marshmallows.


Bake in a preheated 350°F oven until the tops of the marshmallows are golden brown.