BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Recipe Discussions => Meat => Topic started by: GusRobin on April 20, 2014, 04:25:14 PM

Title: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: GusRobin on April 20, 2014, 04:25:14 PM
This is the follow-up to a previous post.
To recap:
Easter falls on my wife's birthday so the daughter and future SIL came over for Easter/ Birthday celebration. I had decided to cure and smoke a fresh ham for Easter.
Here it is after I defrosted it - about 20+ lbs.

(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1407.jpg)

Trimmed the fat and skin off and ended with about 6 lbs of fat and skin. Well it also includes part of the bone since I had to saw off about 5 inches of the end shank to get it to fit in the brining container. The good news was that I got to use my new meat saw that I bought a while back.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1414.jpg)

Pic of the saw
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1415.jpg)

All trimmed and ready to be injected with brine. The bad news is that I think I got carried away and trimmed a little too much.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1408.jpg)

Injected,weighted down with a plate and soaking in the brine.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1411.jpg)

In the fridge for a week's rest.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1413.jpg)

At this point I realized that I did not have any ham netting left so I ordered some and had to pay for expedited shipping.
Ham netting arrived in time. I had saved the fat that I had trimmed so I added some back when I put the ham in the net.
Put it in the Bradley at about midnight on Thursday night. Planning on it being ready sometime Saturday morning. The plan was for it to go in at 120* for 12 hours, then 140* for about 8 hrs with smoke and at 170* until it hits 142 -145* IT.
Completed the 12 hrs about noon Friday and started the smoke. Here it is hanging in the Bradley for about 5 hours of smoke. Used the Amazin Smoke tube filled with hickory pellets.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1425.jpg)

After the smoke it was in for about a total of 26 hours when it reached 142* IT  so I pulled it. I know I should have waited until 145* but it was now almost 2:00 am and I was tired.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1426.jpg)

Cut the net off and wrapped it is plastic wrap and into the fridge until Easter morning. You may notice I took a slice for quality control testing. Okay, so it was more than one slice.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1428.jpg)

Come Sunday morning I unwrapped it, added some cloves, pineapple, and a homemade glaze. Double foiled it and into the oven until it got to 100* IT.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1430.jpg)

Pulled back the foil, glazed again and into a 450* oven for 20 minutes. While it was cooking, made a broccoli, rice casserole.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1434.jpg)

The ham came out great. Here is the plate with the ham, a croissant, mashed potatoes, and the casserole.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1435.jpg)

All in all, an excellent meal. Well worth the time. Plus have plenty of leftovers.




Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: tailfeathers on April 20, 2014, 04:52:33 PM
BEAUTIFUL!!
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: Saber 4 on April 20, 2014, 06:20:42 PM
All I can say is, I wish I could drive to Alabama right now, that is an awesome looking ham!!!! ;) :) :D
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: TMB on April 20, 2014, 07:22:37 PM
Outstanding Gus, what time we eating??
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: GusRobin on April 20, 2014, 08:23:34 PM
Quote from: TMB on April 20, 2014, 07:22:37 PM
Outstanding Gus, what time we eating??
I turned my head and my wife gave the daughter and future SIL most of the leftovers.
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: River Rat on April 21, 2014, 04:57:42 AM
That's one great looking meal!  i feel your pain about the leftovers. Happens to me all the time.
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: Dano on April 21, 2014, 06:09:46 AM
That looks delicious!  Thank you for the pics as well.
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: beefmann on April 21, 2014, 06:21:19 AM
looking good
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: tailfeathers on April 21, 2014, 07:32:52 AM
Quote from: GusRobin on April 20, 2014, 08:23:34 PM
Quote from: TMB on April 20, 2014, 07:22:37 PM
Outstanding Gus, what time we eating??
I turned my head and my wife gave the daughter and future SIL most of the leftovers.
And seeing as how it was both Easter AND her birthday you had the grace, patience and wisdom to say nothing, right? Good Man!
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: tailfeathers on April 21, 2014, 07:35:10 AM
Hope you at least got to keep the bone for bean soup!!!
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: GusRobin on April 21, 2014, 08:06:21 AM
Quote from: tailfeathers on April 21, 2014, 07:35:10 AM
Hope you at least got to keep the bone for bean soup!!!
No, the daughter's dog got that.
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: tailfeathers on April 21, 2014, 08:08:31 AM

Quote from: GusRobin on April 21, 2014, 08:06:21 AM
Quote from: tailfeathers on April 21, 2014, 07:35:10 AM
Hope you at least got to keep the bone for bean soup!!!
No, the daughter's dog got that.
Ouch! Hence the saying "lucky dog"!


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Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: tskeeter on April 21, 2014, 09:56:14 AM
Gus, that is one nice looking ham!  The ham in the plated meal photo looks so juicy that I'm starting to drool.
Title: Re: Easter Ham Completed
Post by: WoodlawnSmoker on April 22, 2014, 02:59:41 PM
Nice job, that looks fantastic!