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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 21,908 Likes: 12
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 21,908 Likes: 12 |
Google "Smithfield country ham"... it was the Gold Standard forever. At least for us Virginians IMHO... shave as thin as possible (often called chipping)... amazing stuff... on top of biscuits and gravy... chipped beef... grilled cheese sandwiches... you use VERY LITTLE... VERY THIN and VERY LITTLE... Hell, looking at an ice cream maker here in the corner... I would make bacon or country ham ice cream even. The salt/Sodium is a killer... be careful or your BP will jack. A dried ham will last for months... Smithfield bought by China 3 or so years ago. https://www.myrecipes.com/extracris...any-three-years-ago-has-anything-changedHell... China owns everything anymore... your bourbon is probably owned by China... fugg I hate that... I love country ham but don't like Smithfield brand at all. My favorite is turner hams from Fulks Run, VA followed by kites from over in Madison County. Thanks... I'll check out "Turner hams from Fulks Run, VA followed by Kites from over in Madison County".
If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,317 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,317 Likes: 7 |
Lots of country ham made and consumed around here. It is typically a breakfast staple, and often put on a biscuit. I’ve eaten it all my life and love it. This past summer I heated some up on the grill and I really liked it that way. I’d bet a dollar that Carolinians eat more of it than the other regions of the country.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,400
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,400 |
I wish I could find a picture of the ham exhibit at the Missouri Stare Fair. 8’ tall shelves. Hams on 1’ centers all the way around the room. Hundreds of them. $50/plate will get you a ticket to the Ham breakfast though. https://www.mostatefair.com/governors-ham-breakfast/
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,036 Likes: 9
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,036 Likes: 9 |
Dang- - - - - -that better be some really good ham to be worth over 500 bucks a bite!
Ignorance can be fixed. Stupid is forever!
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,325 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,325 Likes: 1 |
I tried one a few years ago, it was cured by coating it salt and hung in a shed for a year in Kentucky. You were supposed to soak it in a 5 gal bucket of clean water for a few hours, I soaked it in clean water twice. It was still too salty for me, but ok other than that. If I did it again I would soak it and change the water out 4-5 times. It was interesting.
"Life is tough, even tougher if your stupid" John Wayne
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,803
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,803 |
Google "Smithfield country ham"... it was the Gold Standard forever. At least for us Virginians IMHO... shave as thin as possible (often called chipping)... amazing stuff... on top of biscuits and gravy... chipped beef... grilled cheese sandwiches... you use VERY LITTLE... VERY THIN and VERY LITTLE... Hell, looking at an ice cream maker here in the corner... I would make bacon or country ham ice cream even. The salt/Sodium is a killer... be careful or your BP will jack. A dried ham will last for months... Smithfield bought by China 3 or so years ago. https://www.myrecipes.com/extracris...any-three-years-ago-has-anything-changedHell... China owns everything anymore... your bourbon is probably owned by China... fugg I hate that... I love country ham but don't like Smithfield brand at all. My favorite is turner hams from Fulks Run, VA followed by kites from over in Madison County. Thanks... I'll check out "Turner hams from Fulks Run, VA followed by Kites from over in Madison County". If I remember correctly, didn't you get a place in pendleton County? If you come over through the Dayton or bridgewater area you can grab some kites from the Dayton farmers market. The meat counter has it already baked and sliced thin for sandwiches. Pretty sure the grocery store in bridgewater sells it that way too, I know they have whole kites hams. I'd be curious to hear how you like it compared to other hams Pretty sure you need to go to fulks run for a turner ham but it's worth it. Friday they have fried ham sandwiches made to order. Let me know when you are in the neighborhood and I'll meet you there and buy us lunch.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,264
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,264 |
Jim. Go ahead and try it
Bentons is just a couple miles down the highway from me
They are a legit old school smokehouse. You walk out smelling like smoked meat. It’s not a big factory Bet the whole place ain’t 5000 sq ft. It’s a mom and pop shop. Still doing things the old fashioned way Have shot guns with the owner twice. He is a very nice man.
There bacon is too salty and Smokey for me for eating plain. But cooking with it is amazing. Most people love it though. Lots of high end restaurants buy it apparently
There country ham is top notch.
It’s gonna be salty. That’s why you soak it and bring water to a boil. To reduce the saltiness. Then it’s amazing!!!
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14,749 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14,749 Likes: 2 |
I do as well in small portions & thought that the threat of trichinosis was gone for the most part. But I've I've been recently told that it's still around. I wonder how the Spaniards & Portuguese keep from getting it. Raw cured ham a big time delicacy there I think. The curing process destroys trichinosis and all other harmful pathogens.
Politics is War by Other Means
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,922 Likes: 10
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,922 Likes: 10 |
While it may be a bit salty, that can be fixed with an application of Duke's.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 546
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 546 |
Check out Ricecountryhams.com , located in Tennessee, they cure the hams the old fashion way .
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,356 Likes: 52
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,356 Likes: 52 |
I should go up to our old smokehouse behind Mammy’s place here on the farm. The ham and salt boxes are still in there. Get some pics.
Probably a gazillion brown recluse spiders in there 🥴😕🙁
No ham boxes in my smokehouse. I just smoke.
I need to get a medium size Porky from the Mennonites and then get my father in law to walk me thru a hamming cure
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 834
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 834 |
Never had country ham. I suspect its probably a lot like what my great Grand parents on the Drewniak side would make.
Looked at a place called Benton's country ham. They are 80 bucks or so. Not sure if that includes shipping.
Do the locals in Country Ham country eat a lot of this stuff? Can you get it much cheaper than that?
Is it considered a delicacy?
The mass produced hams we get are under 2 bucks a pound.
Just curious.
If you like ham, you will love it. Benton is one of the best and none of them are cheap.
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,666 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,666 Likes: 4 |
I do as well in small portions & thought that the threat of trichinosis was gone for the most part. But I've I've been recently told that it's still around. I wonder how the Spaniards & Portuguese keep from getting it. Raw cured ham a big time delicacy there I think. The curing process destroys trichinosis and all other harmful pathogens. Thanks Tyrone. I was thinking that but have had folk swear you can still get it from country ham. Think they may not quite know what true cured ham is. When I was growing up, dad would have some of the prettiest burgundy colored cured hams you could ask for & I didn't like it. Well, not the way my poor mom would cook it. She was deathly scared if trichinosis & fried those big pretty slices into a complete shoe sole. It was when I got away from home & had some cooked medium rare that I realized how good it was.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,949
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,949 |
F Never had country ham. I suspect its probably a lot like what my great Grand parents on the Drewniak side would make.
Looked at a place called Benton's country ham. They are 80 bucks or so. Not sure if that includes shipping.
Do the locals in Country Ham country eat a lot of this stuff? Can you get it much cheaper than that?
Is it considered a delicacy?
The mass produced hams we get are under 2 bucks a pound.
Just curious.
Basically, if you like cured smoked bacon, odds you'll most likely like country cured ham, too, but would probably be best if you (and family) tried a little first before buying a whole ham. It is sold prepackaged under a good many different commercial brand names in various portion sizes and quantities, like 'ham steaks', 'biscuit' cuts, 'seasoning' cuts, etc. If you like it well enough to buy a whole one, unless you have access to commercial grade meat slicer / band saw, I'd strongly recommend buying it already sliced. Also, unless you're a salt freak I'd also strongly suggest you at least rinse off slices well before frying or adding to other dishes as seasoning. Frying it in a little Cola is pretty tasty as well, too. I generally buy it in prepackaged 'biscuit' cuts and eat it fried in a little cola or Dr. Pepper type soda then eat it on biscuits. Sometimes I sop the biscuit halves in the leftover pan drippings. DO NOT over cook...
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,115 Likes: 23
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,115 Likes: 23 |
Reading the Little House in the big woods book, I wondered how hams could hang from the rafters, and not spoil.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14,749 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14,749 Likes: 2 |
Reading the Little House in the big woods book, I wondered how hams could hang from the rafters, and not spoil. It really doesn't spoil unless it gets wet. It can get moldy, but you wash that off with vinegar. Other than that, it could get too dry for your taste, but it wouldn't be inedible, you'd just have to re-hydrate it as you cut pieces off. I don't know how anybody could resist it long enough to prove this, but I imagine that like pemmican, ham would still be good 50 years later.
Politics is War by Other Means
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 3,862 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 3,862 Likes: 2 |
Lots of country ham made and consumed around here. It is typically a breakfast staple, and often put on a biscuit. I’ve eaten it all my life and love it. This past summer I heated some up on the grill and I really liked it that way. I’d bet a dollar that Carolinians eat more of it than the other regions of the country. I would not take that bet, it's available at virtually any place that serves breakfast in NC. Almost everybody had a ham or two hanging in their basement or garage when I grew up, it is a staple, especially in the mountains.
Last edited by BuckHaggard; 01/16/22.
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Joined: Jun 2019
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2019
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Check out Ricecountryhams.com , located in Tennessee, they cure the hams the old fashion way . Ed Rice (Sr.) is the guy I was talking about who won the Tennessee State Fair ham competition on a regular basis in the 1960's. His sons took over the business when he passed on, and they would all be in their 70's or older now.
Ignorance can be fixed. Stupid is forever!
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,889
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,889 |
we eat country ham form time to time. We usually fry it in coke, it takes a little of the salt out and gives it a little sweet taste. You wind up with a sweet and salty state. Same here
Romans 5:1
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