Pennsylvania Dutch Ham Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb ground smoked ham
• 1 1/2 lb ground pork
• 1 1/2 cups fine dry breadcrumbs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dry mustard

Before you cook

• Ask the butcher to grind the smoked ham, or pulse cubed ham in a food processor until coarsely ground.
• Soak the breadcrumbs in the milk for 10 minutes.
• Finely chop the onion.
• Whisk the brown sugar, water, vinegar and dry mustard together in a saucepan for the glaze.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

Steps

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Beat the eggs into the soaked breadcrumbs along with the onion, pepper and ground cloves.
3. Add the ground ham and ground pork and mix with your hands until evenly combined, going easy so the loaf stays tender.
4. Shape the mixture into a loaf about ten inches long on the foil-lined sheet.
5. Bring the glaze to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then take it off the heat.
6. Brush a quarter of the glaze over the loaf and slide it into the oven.
7. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes total, brushing on more glaze every 15 minutes.
8. Check that the center reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit before taking it out.
9. Rest the loaf for 15 minutes, then slice it thick and spoon any glaze from the pan over the slices.