National Glazed Spiral Ham Day is a food holiday observed annually on April 15. This gourmet looking dish often found at a holiday feast, originated in the basement of Harry J. Hoenselaar.
In 1952, the Detroit, Michigan entrepreneur patented not only his spiral slicer but the ham glaze as well. His innovative device made it possible for the entire bone-in ham to be sliced in one continuous and even spiral. The result was not only perfect for baking and serving. It was also a beautifully rendered main course. Then in 1957, Hoenselaar founded HoneyBaked Ham.
Today, glazed spiral hams are available from a variety of sources as the patent expired in 1981, but we can thank Harry J. Hoenselaar for making them a possibility.
A traditional glazed ham is baked with a glaze consisting of sugar, honey or orange juice. Spices to taste are often added.
- The Hormel Company of Austin, Minnesota sold the first canned ham in 1926.
- Mainz ham is a German ham that is brined, soaked in brandy or wine lees (or a mixture of both) and then smoked for a long period.
- A country ham is much drier than injected-cured hams and has a sharper flavored due to its high salt content.
- A pig scratches himself with his right leg, which uses the muscles more often, so the meat will be tougher. Aim for the left leg if you can.
- On the Apollo 13 mission, the crew managed to create a functioning CO2 filter out of duct tape and glazed ham.
- Chicago artist Dwight Kalb made a statue of Madonna from 180 pounds of ham.
- Names of some of the better known hams of the world include: Smithfield, prosciutto, Westphalian, Parma, Virginia, Kentucky, Country, Canned, Bayonne, York, Mainz, Prague, Asturias, Toulouse, Dijon, Black Forest, Bohemian, Serrano, presunto, Bradenham, Estremadura, Prazska sunks, and szynka.
- Due to a Civil War surrender agreement, Virginia Baked Ham was given that name to insult the residents of Virginia.
- FEMA keeps a reserve of 3.6 lbs of canned ham for every American.
- In 1941, a tentative peace agreement to struck between France and Nazi Germany. France agreed to supply the Germans with 7 tons of ham a week, but the German army quickly discovered the ham to really be corned beef- the war was then resumed.
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