Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax

Stuffed ham

Stuffed ham is a uniquely Maryland food. In fact, I think it is unique to Southern Maryland...I've never seen it up here in the central part of the state except in the hands of Southern Marylanders (as they passed it to me).

Geographical aside: Southern Maryland is not the Eastern Shore. I watched a Food Network show about the Oyster Festival in St. Mary's that would have been a fine show had the host not repeatedly misidentified their location. "Look at a map, you moron!" I kept yelling at the television.

Anyway, stuffed ham. I had it first at a wedding in Southern Maryland and it knocked my socks off. I like salty country ham, but this...ooooh, this is even better.

You take a country ham and cut slits in it, then stuff the slits with a mixture of chopped kale, cabbage, onion, red pepper, and probably every family has their own special spice mix. The ham needs to sit overnight and cook for awhile, so it isn't something you just whip up after coming home from work. I've never made it. Since I fell for it at that wedding years ago, I have just put the word out that I love stuffed ham, and stuffed ham has come my way.

My grandmother and great aunt used to go down to a church festival where they sold stuffed ham. Unfortunately some poor food handling caused a food poisoning outbreak in 1997, and I'm not sure the church still holds the supper. At any rate, my grandmother has passed away and my great aunt doesn't get around anymore.

After I lost that stuffed ham connection I met a young couple who live here but grew up in St. Mary's. When they go home for Easter they sneak back enough ham that I get a sandwich.

Reading the food section of the Post the other day a very small ad caught my eye: order stuffed ham for the holidays. Oooh, can I?

Stuffed hams are in the 12 to 14 pound range. That's a heckuva lot of ham for two people. But still...something to consider.

Then I recycled the damn paper and lost the phone number.

So I have spent the last hour or so on the internet. I found recipes, but no offers of stuffed ham for sale. Then as I waded through a Southern Maryland discussion board I found out...they sell stuffed ham in grocery store delis.

Wooo HOOOO!!! Time for a road trip with a cooler.

Posted by Nic at December 18, 2003 12:50 PM | TrackBack