Country Ham With Red Eyed Gravy

6 slices country-cured ham, 1/2 inch thick
1 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons strong black coffee

1. In a large shallow baking pan, spread
out ham slices and cover with cold water.
Refrigerate for 3 hours.
2. Drain ham and blot dry with paper
towels. Remove rind, using a small sharp
knife.
3. In a cast-iron skillet, fry ham
slices over medium heat; brown for 3 to 4
minutes on each side. Transfer to a heated
serving platter.
4. Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of
fat from the skillet. Add boiling water, and
simmer for1 minute.
5. Use a metal spatula to loosen any
small fragments of cooked ham from the bottom
of the pan. Stir in coffee and simmer for 7
minutes to reduce by half.
6. Pour gravy over ham, and
serve at once with hot FRIED
APPLES.