The well-known company Padow’s Hams had its beginning in Richmond in 1936. Stephanie Padow Manheim of Gloucester, third generation, is today in charge of shipping online orders of these hams plus the many other products that Padow’s Hams offer.

Stephanie is the granddaughter of George Padow who, those many years ago, opened his grocery and retail outlet in the Jackson Ward area of Richmond. His store was soon known for its quality hams and meats at reasonable prices.

In 1980, the second-generation operator Sidney Padow (Stephanie’s father) and her uncle, Eddie Padow, decided to leave the grocery business and expand to meet the needs of their customers. In 1988 they opened their first Padow’s Ham and Deli in the Willow Lawn Shopping Center. Today, four franchises plus the store in Glen Allen are still in operation.

“I was in high school when my grandfather died,” Stephanie said. Before joining the family business she had another interesting career, teaching school for 20 years. “Then I spent three and half years serving as a teacher trainer in public schools. I was never home and needed to be at home,” she said.

“It was then my husband Lee and I opened a furniture store in Richmond. Come 2020 we couldn’t get furniture shipped in so there went the business.” There is still some furniture in the large structure which is now a shipping building, but Stephanie pushes it aside making room for Padow hams, peanuts, jellies, gift baskets, Virginia mixes and more. She ships these products daily. Stephanie says the largest shipment she’s made in one day was for 900 hams. She offers country ham that can be bone-in or boneless, sliced or unsliced, also a spiral honey ham or raw ham.
Out of the more than almost a dozen types of various hams and cuts, cooked or uncooked, she says the Virginia Honey Spiral ham is one of the most popular. Check www.padows.com.

Stephanie and Lee have three children: Dahlia, 24, Carlee, 20 who spent some time in England studying, and Jesse, 17, who is a student at Gloucester High School Stephanie says she cooks what they like but doesn’t consider herself a master cook. “Our daughter is a very good baker and likes doing it.”

Although Stephanie and her family live in Gloucester, her job requires a lot of commuting to Richmond almost daily. “It’s a long commute.”

PADOW’S VIRGINIA HAM CHEESEBALL

8 oz. Padow’s ground Country Ham, sold in 1 lb. pkg.
8 oz. pkg. softened cream cheese
3 Tbs. honey mustard
3 Tbs. Thousand Island dressing
3 drops hot sauce or to taste
4 oz. pkg. Padow’s unsalted Virginia peanuts

Combine cream cheese, honey mustard, hot sauce and dressing. Add to ground ham. Mix thoroughly and roll into a ball. Crush peanuts in food processor, not too fine. Roll cheese ball in peanuts. Garnish with ½ red cherry on top. Serve with your favorite unsalted crackers. May use sliced or leftover country ham chopped in food processor.

PADOW’S COUNTRY HAM SALAD

1 lb. Padow’s ground Country Ham
3 oz. honey mustard dressing to taste
3 oz. Thousand Island dressing to taste
Chopped celery

Combine the ham, and chopped celery. Mix well. Combine dressings and add to ham mixture.

Note: May be used as a ham paté or for a ham sandwich. Just add 2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce to the ham salad recipe for a wonderful ham paté. May use sliced or leftover country ham, chopped in food processor.

HAM & CHEESE PINWHEELS

1 lb. Padow’s sliced Country Ham
12 slices American, Cheddar or Swiss Cheddar cheese
2 large tortilla shells
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
¼ c. mayonnaise
½ tsp. dill weed
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. onion powder

In medium size bowl combine cream cheese, dill weed, garlic powder. Mix until blended well. 2. Spread thin layer of cream cheese mixture over your tortilla. Spread it out well so the whole tortilla has a thin layer. 3. Down the middle of tortilla, place a few slices of ham to cover the width of the tortilla. On top of the ham place a few slices of Swiss cheese to cover the width of the tortilla. On top of ham place a layer of cheese to cover width of tortilla. This ensures each pinwheel has meat and cheese. 4. Roll up the tortilla tightly. Cut off small portion at each end and discard or eat as a sample. 5. Enjoy!

May be refrigerated and served later the same day.

PADOW’S VIRGINIA COUNTRY HAM SPREAD

8 oz. Padow’s ground Country Ham, sold in 1 lb. pkg.
4 oz. finely chopped celery
3 pinches ground dry mustard to taste
3 drops hot sauce to taste
4 oz. Thousand Island dressing to taste

Mix ground ham, chopped celery, mustard and hot sauce. Add dressing and mix thoroughly. Serve with your favorite unsalted crackers. May use sliced or leftover country ham, chopped in food processor.

PADOW COUNTRY HAM PIE

2 c. Padow’s Virginia diced Country Ham
2 tsp. water
3 Tbs. butter
1 Tbs. minced onion
3 Tbs. flour
½ tsp. dry mustard
2/3 c. milk
¾ c. diced celery
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
½ c. frozen peas
Dash paprika
Pastry for one piecrust

Melt butter in saucepan; add onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, then add milk and celery. Bring to boil over medium heat and cook, stirring until thickened, then simmer a few minutes. Stir in mustard, pepper, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. Add ham and peas. Put in 1½ qt. baking dish and cover with pastry. Bake in 425°F. oven 25 minutes and until pastry is lightly browned. Sprinkle with paprika. Serves 4-6.

PADOW’S PETITE COUNTRY HAM SLIDER ROLLS

1 lb. Padow’s sliced Country Ham
½ lb. Swiss Cheese, sliced thin
3 dozen slider rolls (fresh baked or favorite store brand)
½ stick butter
½ c. brown sugar
1 Tbs. diced fine or processed onion
1 Tbs. poppy seeds
1 Tbs. honey mustard
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

Arrange each roll with ham and cheese on baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Sprayed lightly with Pam. In mixing bowl, combined ingredients with melted butter. Drizzle glaze over rolls and cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F. for 20 minutes.

Many thanks to “SC” from Richmond for sharing this recipe.