Ham it up this entertaining season

Spring is in the air, and so is the aroma of delicious home-cooked meals prepared for family and friends. To keep dishes interesting and to serve something to please a crowd, you'll need just the right recipe and ingredients. Ham is a versatile protein that can be ideal for many meal occasions.

"Whether you are entertaining your extended family for a holiday brunch or simply making dinner for your family, ham adds flavor and variety to any meal," says Joan Hanson, Hormel Foods test kitchen director. "It doesn't take a lot of work to heat a boneless ham or even add ham to a popular appetizer recipe, such as honey roasted ham biscuits."

Beyond its ease of preparation, the secret to preparing a tasty, flavorful ham is to choose the highest quality product you can find.

"The quality of the ham you serve is important, and it all starts with perfecting the process of cooking the hams," says Brian Hendrickson, Hormel Foods curemaster. To ensure you're serving the best-tasting ham possible, look for one that's been made with the best-quality ingredients and that comes with a guarantee of freshness, such as Hormel's Cure 81 hams."

To help pull off a successful meal, Hendrickson and Hanson share their tips:

* Know your numbers: When purchasing ham for a large crowd, such as Easter dinner, count the number of guests scheduled to attend. It's a good idea to get about a pound of boneless ham for every three to four people. Don't forget to estimate a little extra for unexpected guests, and everyone's favorite - leftovers.

* Simply heat and serve: Hams are typically sold as a fully cooked product, so when preparing, all you need to do is heat it until the ham is hot throughout. It's a simple protein solution when you are pressed for time. A good gauge is when the ham reaches 140 to 145 degrees.

* A fit for any meal: In recent years, various cuts and flavors of ham have been introduced, making it a great option for entertaining or a weeknight family dinner. Ham items are available pre-diced or pre-cubed for an easy addition to your morning omelet, or in ham steaks that are great to throw on the grill.

* Pairing partners: The taste profile of ham is versatile and works well with both sweet and spicy flavors. Add a smoky barbecue sauce or black pepper rub to enhance the rich ham flavor, or try unexpected stone fruits such as plum or apricots to lighten the taste palate.

* Traditional Easter meal: If your family gathers together in a large group to celebrate a more traditional sit-down Easter ham dinner here is a fun recipe to keep everyone satisfied.

Apricot-Glazed Ham

Serves: Eight
Total time: More than one hour
Preparation time: Less than 15 minutes

Ingredients:
One Hormel Cure 81 Half Ham
One (12-ounce) jar apricot or peach preserves
Two tablespoons Di Lusso Dijon Mustard
Two tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

Directions:
Bake ham according to package directions. Meanwhile, in bowl, combine preserves, mustard and brown sugar; mix well. Remove ham from oven 30 minutes before end of baking; drain any liquid. Spoon or brush preserve mixture over ham. Return to oven and bake 30 minutes longer. Place ham on serving platter. Thinly slice. Heat any remaining preserve mixture and serve alongside ham as dipping sauce, if desired.