Elite Epicurean's Fresh Ham

Ingredients

Ingredients for Apricot sauce

Preparation

Sauce:
1. Place all ingredients in a blender container. Cover and whiz until smooth.

Ham:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. With a sharp knife, make small slits in the surface of the ham; insert a garlic sliver into each slit.

3. Sprinkle ham liberally with salt, pepper, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder.

4. Arrange ham on a rack in a roasting pan atop mixture of celery, carrots, and onions.

5. Bake, uncovered, for 3 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the center of the ham away from bone and fat registers 155°F (see note).

6. To serve, slice and arrange ham on a serving platter.

7. Pour sauce over ham, or pass in a sauceboat. Garnish ham with parsley flakes and red candied cherries, or drained Maraschino cherries.