Holiday Recipe

Cen posted a challenge for all bloggers to share some favorite holiday recipes and since this doesn't require photoshop skills I am happy to accept the challenge.

This recipe isn't the exact recipe my family has always used but it's close. Ham loaf is a tradition on my family being New Englanders with English/ French ancestry. I remember my greatgrandmother, grandmother, and mother all making this during any family holiday. Being the baby of the family my job was basting the ham loaf with the glaze periodically throughout the baking, thus increasing the yummy aroma all over the house and increasing appetites of anyone with a sense of smell.



Spiced Ham Loaf

Ingredients
1 3/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
6 slices soft bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 pound ground ham
1 pound ground beef
***Apple Cider Sauce***
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3 cups apple cider, or no-sugar-added apple juice
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons cornstarch, PLUS"PLUS" means this ingredient in addition to the one on the next line, often with divided uses
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions
Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, eggs, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt and pepper. Add the bread cubes, ham and beef. Blend well; shape a loaf. Place in a large loaf pan or onto a roasting pan.

Bake at 350 until firm and lightly browned, about 90 minutes. Meat should reach an internal temperature of 175 to 180 degrees on a meat thermometer.

Remove from oven. Let rest 15 minutes, allowing the juices to settle, before slicing.

Slice and serve with warm Apple Cider Sauce.

Note: Ground ham may be purchased at the meat counter at many markets or you may make your own by mincing leftover baked ham in a food processor or grinder.

For Apple Cider Sauce: Combine the brown sugar, apple cider, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.

Separately dissolve the cornstarch in the water. Gradually add the cornstarch mixture to the boiling apple cider mixture, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly.

Remove the sauce from heat. Stir in the lemon juice. Serve with Spiced Ham Loaf or Baked Ham.

Note: Because the sweetness of ciders varies, be prepared to adjust the amount of sugar to taste.