Julgransplundring and St. Knut

 

January 13 is St. Knut's Day as well as Julgranspludring (Christmas tree plundering). Across Sweden homes will be swept clean of Christmas goats and tomte. Kids will feast on the treats that decorated their trees and say goodbye to Jul.

We had our own tree plundering last weekend. I made a final batch of Orange Almond Melting Moments, popped a Julskinka (Christmas ham) into the oven (it looked more Devil's Tower than pig but it was delicious), and used a last bit of Christmas lingonberries for sweet and savory cheesy roll ups.

Julskinka
8 - 10 pound pre-cooked ham
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup spicy honey mustard
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Several cups each Panko bread crumbs and good ginger cookies processed into crumbs

Score ham. Whisk together yolks, mustard, and cloves until smooth and silky; and spread evenly over ham. Press Panko and ginger cookie crumbs into yolk-mustard mixture. Bake in 375 degree oven 10 minutes for each pound of ham or until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees.