On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 22:28:09 GMT, "Kent H." >
wrote:

>I have tried to cook a number of Smithfield hams unsuccessfully,
>including soaking for 24 hours in the basement with several changes of
>water to desalt before cooking, and it has never worked quite right.
>What do you and what does mother and father do to make it right?
>Thanks

Now don't get all upset again, Kent, but she's not referring to a
dry-cured country ham. She's referring to a wet-cured Smithfield
*brand* ham. Thge "low-sodium" should have been an obvious clue, even
for you.

I know you don't beleive there is such a ham, but yes, they do exist.

-sw

>jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> I ordered a 1/2 Smithfield lower sodium (due to Mom's diet restrictions) EZ
>> Slice ham for my parents, along with some "Buster Bones". Buster Bones are
>> fully cooked meaty ham bones which are either treats for large dogs or may
>> be used in cooking. My dad likes to use a ham bone like that when he makes
>> his navy bean soup. I alerted my parents to expect the package.
>>
>> I got a phone call from my parents asking me, "Why did you send us dog
>> bones?" When I finished laughing I explained. Mom said, "Oh, then I guess
>> I'll tell your father to stop gnawing on that one." LOL
>>
>> A couple of days later (Saturday) I was talking to Mom and mentioned what
>> they could do with the leftover ham. She said, "Why do you keep talking
>> about a ham? We didn't get a ham." "Well I sure as heck was charged for
>> one! Gotta go make a call, Mom."
>>
>> Smithfield is closed on weekends. So I sent them an email. Then I called
>> to follow-up on Tuesday (when I remembered!). They said the ham had been
>> shipped that day for overnight delivery and gave me a tracking number.
>>
>> Wednesday evening my parents called me. Delivered was a 15 POUND ham.
>> WHAT?! I didn't order you a 15 lb. ham! (At least it was lower sodium.)
>> It was pretty comical listening to them describe how it barely fit into the
>> turkey roaster.
>>
>> The mystery was solved when I signed on tonight and checked my email.
>> Apparently Smithfield was out of the half ham I'd ordered. When they got my
>> email and realized the problem, customer service took it upon themselves to
>> send a whole ham at no extra cost, priority overnight delivery. Now THAT is
>> service!
>>
>> My 79-year-old parents cooked the ham the same day. And Dad has yet another
>> ham bone. They're going have to package up and freeze a lot of it and give
>> a good bit of it away to neighbors. Even with that, they're going to have
>> ham for a loooong time!
>>
>> Tonight, Dad said, they're quickly heating a couple of slices in a skillet
>> and having ham & eggs for dinner
>>
>> Jill