Roasted Fresh Ham

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Place a rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 425 degrees. Trim skin and excess fat from ham, leaving a layer of fat. Score ham all over in a diamond pattern of ½-inch-deep cuts about 1½ inches apart.

2. Step 2

   In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and thyme, pinching and sifting mixture until thyme becomes fragrant. Pat mixture all over ham and into crevices.

3. Step 3

   Place ham fat-side up on a rack in a large roasting pan and roast uncovered for ½ an hour. Turn heat down to 350 degrees, pour 2 cups wine and ½ cup water into pan and loosely tent with aluminum foil. Continue to roast, basting every hour. Add water to pan, if necessary, to keep pan juices from scorching; bake until a meat thermometer pressed into thickest part of ham reads 155 degrees, about 3½ hours.

4. Step 4

   Let ham stand 15 to 20 minutes before carving. Pour pan juices and remaining 2 tablespoons wine into a small saucepan and simmer about 2 minutes. Turn off flame, add half-and-half, and serve with ham.