THE APPLEWOOD FARMS HAM & TURKEY BLOG

OUR NEW FIRE TORCHED HAM EASTER 2008

2008-02-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE:THE OFFICAL DEBUT OF OUR NEW RED BOXED,FIRE TORCHED SPIRAL SLICED HAM. THIS HAM COMES WITH GLAZE.(OUR BLACK BOX SPIRAL IS A DRY HAM WITH A GLAZE PACKET AND INSTRUCTIONS, IT GIVES THE PERSON WARMING IT UP SOMETHING ELSE TO DO SO THEY CAN HONESTLY SAY THEY HAVE BEEN SLAVING OVER A HOT STOVE) AFTER WE HAND GLAZE THIS HAM, WE TAKE A BLOW TORCH TO IT.GREAT FUN AND A FABULOUS RESULT.CHRISTMAS SALES EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
I THANK MY WIFE FOR GIFTING ME WITH A HAND BLOW TORCH (XMAS 2006) AND TAKING MANY HAMS TO THE OFFICE FOR TASTE TESTS.IT'S NOT LIKE I GOT IT DOWN THE FIRST FEW TIMES I TRIED IT.
I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MUCH FUN IN THE KITCHEN.I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE KITCHEN.
WE MUST SHARE THAT WE HAVE SHORTENED TH SHELF LIFE BY TWO WEEKS BY TORCHING THE HAM(THE BLACK BOX HAS A 21-30 SHELF LIFE REFRIDGERATED BEFORE FREEZING). IN SHORT EAT IT OR FREEZE IT WITHIN 2 WEEKS AFTER RECEIVING IT.
I LOVE MY JOB.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE .

TWAS THE DAY BEFORE XMAS

2007-12-24T11:21:00.000-08:00

MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

BLACK MONDAY

2007-12-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

TODAY, MONDAY THE 17TH IS CONSIDERED BLACK MONDAY BY THOSE OF US IN THE SHIPPING BUSINESS THROUGH DHL, FED-EX AND UPS.TOMORROW WILL BE VERY INTERESTING.AS IT IS THE BUSIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR.FEW SHIP EARLY. IT'S ALWAYS LAST MINUTE.ERGO GRID LOCK.LOW THE WHINING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.TOUGH ON US WHOM ARE IN THE PERISHABLES BUSINESS.
NONE OF THE ABOVE SHIPPERS GURANTEE GROUND SHIPMENTS THIS WEEK ANYWAY, ONLY AIRS.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE BAD WEATHER AREAS, THEY DON'T HELP.
WE OUR SELVES ONLY LET NEXT DAY AIR AND SECOND DAY AIRS GO TODAY.AS WE ARE EXPERINCING EXCEPTIONS FROM OVER THE WEEKEND.
THANK GOD HAMS ARE MORE RESILIENT AND CAN TAKE TO GROUND SHIPMENTS MUCH BETTER THAN TURKEYS.
OUR GLAZED FIRE TORCHED 1/2 SPIRAL SLICED HAMS ARE SELLING LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
WE ARE ALSO VIRTUALLY SOLD OUT OF TURKEYS. HAVING ONLY A FEW HENS 10/12'S A FEW 24/26 LB TOMS AND SOME 10/12 TURKEY BREASTS.EVERYTHING I BOUGHT (LIKE FREE RANGE BIRDS) SOLD OUT.
GO FIGURE.

HAMS: DEATH BY ROASTING

2007-12-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

THE THING IS THAT MOST PEOPLE "KILL" THEIR HAM BY OVERHEATING IN THE OVEN.A SMOKED HAM WHETHER BONELESS OR BONE IN [WHOLE OR 1/2 SPIRAL CUT] IS FULLY COOKED AND READY TO EAT.ONE NEED ONLY TO WARM IT AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE 225 DEGREES 10-15 MINUTES PER POUND.
REMOVE HAM FROM CRYO-VAC BAG,PLACE ON A ROASTING RACK IF WHOLE, FLAT SIDE DOWN IF 1/2 SPIRAL SLICED SIDE DOWN [KEEPS THE SLICES FROM DRYING OUT AND SEPARATING] ,ADD A LITTLE WATER, FOIL IF YOU LIKE[A MORE STEAMED RESULT].
I HAVE A NEW 1/2 SPIRAL HAM.
THE FIRE TORCHED ONE.
WE FIRST GLAZE IT, USING A PASTRY BAG WE THEN TOP WITH BROWN SUGAR STARS AND TAKE A BLOW TORCH TO IT.IT IS TO DIE FOR.
NATURALLY THE SHELF LIFE GOES DOWN AFTER WE TORCH IT, WHICH MEANS YOU EAT IT OR FREEZE IN TWO WEEKS.

THE BEST WAY TO DEFROST A TURKEY

2007-12-08T14:46:00.000-08:00

NOTE: THIS TECHNIQUE ALSO APPLIES TO TURKEY BREASTS AND FROZEN CHICKEN ITEMS.
BEFORE YOU RETIRE FOR THE EVENING TAKE THE FROZEN BIRD AND SUBMERGE IT IN COLD WATER.USE THE KITCHEN SINK, LAUNDRY OR BATH TUB, OR A LARGE CONTAINER[ ICE CHESTS, BIG COOLERS WORK GREAT.WHEN YOU WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING, HE [TOM]OR SHE[HEN] IS COMPLETELY DEFROSTED.
THIS IS SIMPLE,EASY, AS WELL AS FULL PROOF.

INTRODUCTION

2007-11-30T00:24:00.000-08:00

AS A LEADING PURVEYOR OF APPLEWOOD FARMS BRAND HAMS AND TURKEYS FOR OVER FORTY YEARS I FIND THAT MOST OF THE GENERAL POPULANCE HAS MANY MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING THESE TWO VERY EDIBLE ANIMALS.
I WILL TRY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BASED ON THE QUESTIONS I AM MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED.
TO NAME A FEW:
BEST SIZE
FREE RANGE/ORGANIC OR BASTED
FRESH OR FROZEN
COOKING TIPS
THE PROPER WAY TO DEFROST YOUR BIRD OR HAM IF FROZEN.