English Ham

This is an excellent dish for Sunday lunch. Serve with steamed potatoes.

• Ready In: 4 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 1 (8 -10 lb)  nice braising ham or 1 (8 -10 lb)  country ham
• 2  onions
• 2  stalks celery
• 2  carrots
• 1  cup madeira wine
• 1  tablespoon sugar
•  butter
•  thyme
•  bay leaf

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Rub the ham with a mixture of bay leaves and thyme.
3. Chop the vegetables and sauté them gently in butter with the sugar, a little thyme and a bay leaf until the onions are translucent.
4. Add 1/2 cup Madeira and let it evaporate almost completely.
5. Place the ham in a roasting pan and cover with the vegetable mixture, drizzle with melted butter, cover and cook in the preheated 400° F oven for 20-25 minutes per pound.
6. Remove the ham from the oven and transfer to a serving platter,reserve the vegetables.
7. Degrease the cooking juices and pour them into a small saucepan; you should have about 1 cup; if not, add some water or stock; add the remaining 1/2 cup Madeira.
8. Reduce slightly; liquefy with the vegetables in a blender and pour over the ham.