The Jefferson
Virginia ham on sweet cornbread with pepper jelly
Inspired by the gardens & kitchens of Monticello
The Story
Thomas Jefferson, the third President, was America's original foodie. After serving as Minister to France, he returned with a passion for French cuisine, fine wines, and ingredients like vanilla and macaroni. At Monticello, his Virginia estate, he cultivated over 300 varieties of vegetables and 170 varieties of fruit. His enslaved chef James Hemings trained in Paris and brought sophisticated techniques to the Virginia table — a fusion that this cornbread and ham bite celebrates.
Ingredients
- 6 oz Virginia ham, thinly sliced
- Mini cornbread rounds
- 3 tbsp pepper jelly
- Fresh thyme
- Butter
Preparation
- 1.Bake mini cornbread rounds and let cool.
- 2.Warm pepper jelly until spreadable.
- 3.Layer ham onto each cornbread round.
- 4.Drizzle with pepper jelly and garnish with thyme.
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