A little less than a year ago we butchered two hogs. You may remember the picture of the hams in their salt and sugar cure, and my description of how they lived in our bedroom for weeks and weeks, the bedroom being plenty cold for curing hams. Well, they’ve been living under our kitchen table since then, wrapped in pillowcases and surrounded by wood ashes, and yesterday, in
The ham in its pillowcase, dusty with ashes
preparation for New Year Day, I unwrapped one, scrubbed it,
The ham, unwrapped, but a little ashey and a little moldy
and have had it soaking overnight.
In a little while, or maybe this evening, I’ll put it on the woodstove to simmer for a few hours. Then tomorrow I’ll skin it, leaving a half inch of fat to cover the whole thing, smear the outside with a messy paste of brown sugar and mustard and bake it in the woodstove oven until the outside is caramelized and brown.
The ham, scrubbed
I also soaked blackeyed peas
Blackeyed peas soaking
overnight and they’re now cooking on the woodstove, and in a little while I’ll chop a couple of bunches of collards and start cooking them with some smoked pork.
If you’re reading this and you’re close by, I hope you’ll stop by and have a bite.
The rest of you: I wish you were here!
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Seriously wishing we lived closer! All looks good and sounds wonderful! About to start collards and blackeyed peas here too… although no homegrown pork yet! Which reminds me… I may need to pick your brain before we attempt the hogs… will send an email later
Happy New Year!!
Are you going to butcher yourselves? I’d love to chat about hogs! And I wish we lived closer, too.
why do you think that the world at large wants to see that ham?
(just kidding)
Love, Jennarator (and Dana Dee) (composed by Jenna, typed by Dana)
Hello ladies! I’m here to tell you that not only does the world at large want to see that ham—they want to EAT that ham! (It was good, too!)
That ham looks amazing! Were you at all worried about the mold? I’m such a wuss when it comes to mold on jam, let alone meat.
Cheesemaking has really helped me make peace with mold! Also, the mold on this ham was much less than on a lot of the country hams I’ve bought!
On the other hand, I’d throw out moldy jam!
[...] The unveiling is here. [...]
Ah, Man, I wish I lived closer. I loves me a southern ham! Was it wonderful?
(I’ve been missing you in your new location. Think I now have it figured out. And I linked your blog on mine — hope that’s okay!)
Hi Sharon! Thanks for the link! And I wish you lived closer, too!