Country Ham Croutons

• Recipe by George Mahaffey

Country ham, cold cured in salt and sugar and then aged, is available at specialty food stores and most supermarkets throughout the south. These easy-to-make croutons are so delicious they make excellent hors d'oeuvres on their own.

Ingredients

1. Ten 3/8-inch-thick slices of French or Italian bread
2. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3. One 1/2 -pound piece of country ham or prosciutto
4. 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
5. 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°. Brush the bread on both sides with the olive oil. Bake for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Let cool.
2. Put the ham in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Simmer over moderate heat for 5 minutes. Drain the ham and let cool completely. 
3. Finely chop the ham and put it in a small bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise and parsley. Mound the ham generously on the toasts and serve. 
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Make Ahead

The ham topping can be refrigerated overnight. Let the croutons stand at room temperature.