Tuesday, November 27, 2007

A Follow-up Idea Post

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketI had quite a few people ask me about the gravy I make along with ham. So I thought I would share what I do, in case anyone else was wondering. Growing up, my father never made ham gravy. But Holly's mom always did. And she would save me some every time she made it. I would get a call on Easter, Christmas and at least one other time through out the year that she had something for me. I knew what that meant and would rush over. Now my husband isn't a big fan of it. I guess he's just not used to it. And my kids assumed they weren't either. But, while I can't make Kenny try it, I can them. And lo and behold, they loved it.

I always layer pineapple slices on my ham. I pierce a few slices with some whole cloves. (Sssh, don't tell Kenny. He's convinced he doesn't like cloves either. Little does he know...) Then with the juice from the pineapple, I make a glaze with brown sugar and yellow mustard. Baste your ham with it and add just a little water to the bottom of your pan. Continue to baste as you normally would. Now you make the gravy for ham just as you would for any other roast. Heat a sauce pan, add a few tablespoons of butter, a few tablespoons of flour and make a roux. Add the drippings from the pan, whisking and bring to a boil to thicken. You might want to add a smidge bit more pepper but probably not salt. And that's it. It's delicious!!

Kenny and the boys found my menu last night and asked me if this was all I was planning on making for Christmas dinner. I was puzzled and asked yeah, why? Well where's the sauce?? We always have sauce and ravioli. Aren't you making that too???????? Now here's the deal about the sauce. I make it every year for Christmas. But last year, as I was putting together the rest of the meal I realized that I had a ton of food and rather than waste it, I saved the sauce (which I make a few days beforehand,) froze it and then we had it for dinner a week later. I had plenty of other food and it wasn't missed (or so I thought.) But I was reminded by my 'loving family' that we're having a 6 more people for dinner this year. And Austin complained it's his favorite part of the dinner (and if you ever saw my son eat, you'd laugh too because EVERYTHING is his favorite part.) But they talked me into it. So I'll be adding sauce and ravioli to my menu.

Kenny asked me to double the amount of mushrooms that I make because he wants to make sure that there's enough. Which is code for: I want like 15 for myself so you better make a lot! And I decided to change my asparagus dish just a little. Normally, I snap the ends of the asparagus off, make bundles of six and wrap them with a strip of bacon. I brush a pan with olive oil and then roast them in the oven until the bacon is crisp. Once out of the oven, I sprinkle some Romano cheese over them. But with 20 people eating dinner, that's a lot of bundles! So this year, I will chop my bacon, fry that up and saute my chopped, blanched asparagus in the drippings. So I'll have the same components but neatly served in a bowl. Much better. Some of you asked about the oranges and olive oil. It is fairly new to our family. My cousin Roni's husband Bobby taught us that dish. It's Italian, not Greek and is really quite excellent! You may not think so, but trust me...try it. Just add your orange segments to a bowl, drizzle with a little EVOO and add some fresh cracked black pepper. Yum-O!

Blessing of the day: I'm blessed to have good eaters in this house and a great teacher (my father) on how to pull it all together!

53 comments:

lori said...

How MUCH would it cost me to have you come here and prepare Christmas Eve?? The Burgh isn't THAT far:)

It ALL sounds so wonderful...I have been persuaded. I am going to get that menu going:)

YOU are the amazing one!!:)
good eaters are a blessing!!
hugs!
lori

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Julie,
What time are we eating? LOL. Your menu sounds so delicious. I bet that ham gravy is good. I've never heard of it. My Mother used to make Red-Eyed Gravy from ham drippings years ago. I don't remember how she did it, but is was good. My Dad is a retired fireman and he always get a good ham at Christmas from the Fire Department. It is some good ham. I bet the ravioli is good also. I've never had homemade ravioli. I would like to try it someday tho. Well, take care my friend and have a great Tuesday. May God Bless You and Yours.

Hugs,
Karen H.

Rosie's Whimsy said...

You have done it to me again! Breakfast just doesn't taste so good when I am reading recipes for ham and gravy, mushrooms and asparagus :-) Yummy!

Terri Steffes said...

YUmmy!

I'll try the oranges, my FIL owns some orange trees in Florida.

By the way, Karla's is the 12th and BooMama's is the 17th, Karla's is a favorite things about your home tour, and BooMama's is a house tour. I am participating in both and highlighting different things.

Alice said...

It's really impossible not to make the dishes our families especially request, isn't it? My niece never gets real mashed potatoes at home so she always begs for them at every dinner at my house. Even though I'd rather have something else for Christmas, I'll make those darned mashed potatoes for her.

Abbie said...

oooohhh my gracious.. you put my ham to shame and the oranges sound fabulous!
Thank you for the ideas,
Abbie

Anonymous said...

Julie I love the drippings of the ham. I always use the pineapple and brown sugar. Here I am a Louisiana girl(queen of roux) lol, but never thought of thicking the drippings with it. Thanks girl.
I have had no other person mention a problem with blog.. so sorry...please don't leave me.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe it... that is the same recipe my mom used to make for our ham... except we do it a bit different in that we score the ham... take pineapple juice from one can... brown sugar and the mustard and make it REAL THICK.. drizzle that over the ham and cook ... basting occassionlly ... then the glaze simply gets thick as it cooks... I have never tried it as a gravy ... but might have to

Slowly getting there by the way... exhausted is a good word... but I still have to read your blog every day... it makes mine...your lovely stories just make a person feel better for a minute even if they dont

HUGS BLESSINGS LOVE

smilnsigh said...

I keep seeing your Icon, in comments in 'Tea In My Cup,' and it {your Icon} looks so inviting. I had to bounce over here, and say Hi!

Hugs,
Mari-Nanci

ohiofarmgirl said...

Your ham sounds wonderful...we usually do a brunch at Christmas but this year some of our usual plans have fallen through so maybe we will have a nice dinner...and I can try your ham ideas! Dianntha

Elle Jay Bee said...

Oh my goodness!! I want to come to your house for Christmas dinner!! It sounds so delicious...I do the same old things every year. I think I need to branch out a bit...I think I will be contacting you for recipes!!

Linda
xox

Mary said...

Oh, Julie, you're reminding me of my mother's Christmas dinners -- fruit cup, roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, salad AND antipasto, lasagna, meatballs and sausage. And desserts up the wazoo. Your asparagus sounds yummy, and I wil try those oranges some time.
xoxo,
Mary

mayberry said...

Dang your posts make me hungry!

Sharon said...

Wow.......can I come and visit around dinner time. The ham looks so good and I just found your attic and thought I would say hi. Come visit me when you have time....Sharon K

Nan said...

Set the table for two more, please?
Nan

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie. Wow, you are just the Christmas Queen with all of your traditions and ideas. Thanks so much for sharing, and for sharing how you remind your family of the reason for the season!

xoxox,
Melissa

From the Doghouse said...

Somebody likes Rachel Ray ...

Anita said...

Makes me wish my extended family weren't all such picky eaters... I always have to be very careful to not put things on the table that they don't like.... *sigh*

Anonymous said...

I never ate much ham or pork in general growing up. But only because my mom just didn't know how to cook the stuff. So when I have it as an adult, it always tastes exotic and rich to me. Isn't that weird?

Tammy said...

We bake a ham the exact same way but I've never made the gravy...I may try that with my Christmas Ham this year...

You know what, speaking of ham, I would much rather cook and eat ham than turkey! Turkey is too much stress...thawing then making sure you get out all the innards...argg!!! Ham...we should all eat more ham!!

Have a great day! =)

Kristen said...

Oh my goodness! You never fail to make me hungry!! :)

Distant Timbers Echo said...

Perfect!

Haha! I've told my wife several times to NOT tell me what's in some of the things she makes. I just like the outcome of them, but when she tells me there are ingredients in there I'm convinced I don't like, I can't eat it!

Oh well.
:)

PAT said...

mmmmmmm....good....it all sounds wonderful...including the ham gravy, Julie!

Pat

bj said...

Hi, Julie, girl...thanks for coming by my place this morning.
I wonder if your ham gravy is the same I grew up with called Red Eye gravy? It is made just like what we have, even the pineapple and cloves.
Sounds as if you will have a wonderful dinner!
hugs, bj

BittersweetPunkin said...

Hi Julie...somehow after reading your post I am a little disappointed in the bowl of oatmeal I just finished....LOL
How are you??
Love,
Robin

Nancy said...

You ham looks so good, and the gravy sounds yummy. It is almost supper time here.

Rosemary said...

The ham gravy sounds yummy!!
I make sausage,peppers and onions on Christmas Eve. My family always did. I normally make ham on Christmas, but this year my daughter is making the dinner.
So it will be the first time that I don't have to do Christmas Eve and Christmas Day both.
Rosemary

Unknown said...

YUMMY! I want to be there for Christmas...what a lovely feast you all will have!

Farmgirl Cyn said...

Geez-Louize, Julie! I want to come to your house for Christmas!

kari and kijsa said...

Wow...sounds wonderful...it sounds like an amazing dinner....what a blessing that your family appreciates it!

Have a blessed day!
kari and kijsa

Unknown said...

Oh yummy! My hubby's family is Italian too and I love going over there on Christmas Eve and eating the food, which sonds alot like your meals. Really sounds good Julie, so what time is dinner again? LOL

Cottage Contessa said...

My mouth is watering reading this post! Do you think I could squeeze in at the table too.....pretty please? Delish!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

BellaColle said...

Oh my goodness! sounds delicious! And you are one amazing and inspirational babe..

rosemary said...

I remember every Christmas my folks would bake the Smithfield ham that my uncle in Virginia sent us. My dad would have it hanging in the garage until it was time to bake it...it was smothered in pepper and looked like a shriveled something or other. It was salty, tasty and made the best after t/giving and Christmas sandwiches. My mom always made pasta and sauce at the holidays too...I miss her sauce. You just cook your heart out Julie....i will live vicariously thru your meals. I have a fridge magnet...We eat from the 3 basic food groups...canned, frozen and take out.

~katie~ said...

Is that real?!? :-)

Can I nominate you for "Hostess with the Mostess" award??

Just lovely!

Blessings,
Katie

Jan said...

Oh my goodness...such a scrumptious post today! It all looks and sounds amazing!

Jan

Meggie said...

You know Julie, I'm only a short distance away...I may just stop by for Christmas dinner. It all sounds so scrumptious. For Thanksgiving we used to have wedding soup and pasta before the turkey and potatoes. You can imagine how stuffed we all were...before getting to the turkey. Over the years I first omitted the soup, then the pasta. But, pasta is still a fave in my family also. Thanks so much for the ham gravy tip.

lori said...

HEY, I know you are a BUSY gal...but I tagged you for a meme...
not sure if you've done this one before...
if you have time...:)
lori

Esther Sunday said...

This post made me hungry.

Susie said...

My Mom used to prepare the glaze for her ham the exact same way. Love your idea for the asparagus, both the bundles and the stir fried. Sounds yummy!
:)

Emily said...

Ohhh....ANOTHER post about food. I'm in heaven, thinking about your delicious basted ham.
The gravy sounds good, and the oranges.
Ahhh! I'm losing power on my pc! Will check back later, for some of the posts I missed.

Mandie said...

hello Julie!

Thank you for the kind words and for keeping us in your prayers. it's very appreciated. by the way your Ham looks so yummy! can you save me a slice! LOL

Mandie

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Yummy! I have never made or tasted ham gravy, but it always sounds so good! I think I might try it next time a bake a ham...
Penny

JANET said...

What a feast! You are a really decorative cook!

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