Best ham loaf east of anywhere

Bluffton ham loaf

Note: I grew up thinking that every kitchen had a metal manual meat grinder that attached to the kitchen table. I didn't realize until I looked for the meat grinder in our present home that one didn't come with the house. So, to create this ham loaf, unless you have such a meat grinder, you'll have to stop in at The Dough Hook and ask for the ham loaf already ground. I've asked several meat cutters in larger super markets to grind a pound of ham and a pound of pork. The result of this request was a blank stare.

You need:

1 pound pork and 1 pound ham (already ground together)

1 cup cracker crumbs or bread crumbs

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

3/4 to 1 cup milk

Combine the ingredients by hand and shape into a loaf. Place the loaf in a glass or metal rectangular container. Place in center rack in oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Sauce

3/4 cup brown sugar (or white sugar and 2 tablespoons molasses)

1/2 cup water 1/2 cup vinegar

Mix and bring to a boil. 15 minutes before removing ham loaf from the oven, add the sauce.