This will be more of a list of ingredients than a true recipe. The problem is when I make ham salad I am simply using up the end of the ham we had for a holiday or special occasion. Obviously, not all hams are created equal, so you will need to tweak the recipe to get it to taste the same each time you make it . One of this households favorite hams is a “Honey Baked Ham.” This gives you a little sweeter tasting salad. If I am using just a plain old ham I add a little raw sugar to get the sweetness plus the molasses flavor.

I use the food processor to chop up the ham, but a grinder works fine. You might even be able to use a blender, but be careful not to over chop. The ham salad can get a little mushy.

In the old deli days you could buy something the called “ham salad,” but it was all the ends of the meats and cheeses sold at the deli counter. To get that “pink” ham look the butchers used to use strawberry or cherry jello as a food coloring and sweetener. Now you are getting something like that only it’s called sandwich spread.

Ingredients

• 4 cups ground fully cooked ham
• 2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
• 1 or 2 ribs finely chopped celery
• 1/4 cup  finely chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1 cup mayonnaise (I usually just spoon this out of the jar mixing as I go until I get the consistency I want.)
• 1 tablespoon raw sugar (optional)

Directions

Combine all the ingredients mixing well. If it is not quite creamy enough add more mayo. Want it a little sweeter add more relish. It’s best if chilled, but I usually can’t get people to wait. Serve on any type cracker or bread. It also tastes good on flour tortilla shells.

This jam is not spicy, but heat can be increased by adding a few habanero peppers. Alternatively, you can add red pepper flakes when serving to increase heat. It is a good appetizer on small corn bread squares or heated and poured over a block of cream cheese with crackers. It would also be a good glaze on chicken or pork.

4 cups crushed strawberries
1 cup minced jalapeno peppers (include seeds for more flavor)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
7 cups sugar
1 pouch Certo

Prepare crushed strawberries and add finely minced jalapenos (and seeds if desired), lemon juice and sugar. Bring to a full boil. Add Certo and allow to boil for another minute. Pour into steralized jars and top with clean, new, hot lids and rings. Process in boiling water for 10 minutes. Makes approximately eight 8 ounce jars.