I dearly love ham prepared this way. In fact, it's my favorite. I always make extra for leftovers.

This ham is not only festive-looking, but it is also delicious. Still, it's pretty simple to prepare. In fact, it's so simple that even a beginner cook can easily achieve good results. It's an excellent choice for any holiday, but is also perfect for anytime you have a crowd to feed, such as reunions, birthday parties, and other celebrations.

How to Choose the Perfect Ham

First, choose a whole, bone-in, Hickory-smoked ham. You will never be disappointed.

Now for the size: allow 2 pounds per person. For example, if you're expecting ten people, you would want a ham that is about 20 pounds. Eight people, around sixteen pounds, and so on.

Get Your Baking & Roasting Pans Ready

First, you might want to choose a disposable aluminum roasting pan if you don't have a good stainless steel one. I prefer to use the aluminum ones, simply because of the easy clean up afterwards.

Next, you will want to place the aluminum pan on a cookie sheet. This is a safer way because the ham is heavy and the cookie sheet will give added strength to the weaker aluminum for easier handling, plus it helps to catch any drippings.

Ingredients

• 1 (20-ounce) can of sliced pineapples
• 1 (10-ounce) jar of maraschino cherries
• 1 packed cup of light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (this will be added to the glaze; while any brand of cinnamon will do, I prefer McCormick's because it's always fresh tasting and flavorful)
• 1/8 teaspoon (a pinch) of ground cloves (a small but very important ingredient for the glaze)
• 1/4 stick of butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

For the Ham

1. Place the whole ham and 1/2 cup water in a foil pan that sits atop a cookie sheet.
2. Calculate your cooking time. It's about 15 minutes per pound, so if you have a 20-pound ham, the cooking time would be 15 minutes for each pound, which would be 4 pounds per hour, which would equal 5 hours of cooking time.
3. Place the ham in a preheated 350-degree oven. Cook for 1 hour.
4. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees, then cover ham with foil and cook for the remainder of the calculated cooking time.

Note: While ham is baking, you can make your glaze and have it ready to go. This glaze is delicious and super-simple to make.

For the Glaze

1. In mixing bowl, add the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and about 1/8 cup of the juice from the pineapples. Stir together.
2. Put this mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds to melt it together. Stir again (use a whisk if desired) to dissolve any clumps. Cover and set aside.
3. When the ham is done cooking, remove the foil, pour the glaze evenly over the ham, and continue to cook, uncovered, for an additional 20 minutes.
4. Remove ham from oven and garnish with pineapple slices—the glaze will help secure the pineapples in place. Set a cherry inside each pineapple hole. Don't forget to enjoy a little cherry juice, as this will help you to have a very "cherry" day. :)

There you have it: a beautiful, mouth-watering, and delicious ham.

Comments

peachy from Home Sweet Home on November 28, 2014:

a perfect ham for this holiday and also christmas day, thanks

moonlake from America on April 19, 2013:

This is how my mother-in-law always cooked her ham so it is the way I learned to cook it but with ours we put cloves all over it. Voted up.

Becky (author) from Oklahoma on May 14, 2011:

Mrs. J.B., :) I dearly love ham prepared this way. In fact, it's my favorite. I could have it several times a month but of course I don't or we would all weigh 300 pounds :) It is the perfect choice for special occasions or anytime you need to feed a crowd. I always make extra so there will be leftovers for sandwiches and such, which my husband appreciates and takes full advantage of :) Thanks for voting and commenting.

Mrs. J. B. from Southern California on May 11, 2011:

Becky: That's it I am moving husband or not. How you do not weigh over 300 pounds is beyond me. Ham is my favorite and now I want some. Soooo what's for dinner at your house tonight?

Om Paramapoonya on May 05, 2011:

Wow, the picture looks great and the recipe sounds pretty easy. I'm sure it's yummy. Rated awesome. :)

Becky (author) from Oklahoma on April 23, 2011:

Peggy, thanks for your thoughtful comment. You're right, I allow for heavy eaters and want to make sure there is enough for an unexpected visitor or two. Not to mention leftovers for sandwiches later. :)

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on April 21, 2011:

Hi Becky,

What a beautiful picture you took of your completed ham. Looks almost (notice I said almost?) too pretty to eat. Ha! 2 pounds per person...you must be counting on all of those nibblers and/or leftovers. Correct? Thanks for the recipe. Right in time for Easter. Useful rating for sure!

Becky (author) from Oklahoma on April 02, 2011:

Dave, I know how your wife feels, my husband does the same thing :) Thanks for commenting.

Dave Mathews from NORTH YORK,ONTARIO,CANADA on April 02, 2011:

Yum Yum! my mouth is watering. This is one of my favorite foods. Thank you for your recipe.

My wife loves a ham like this, but hates having one in the house because I cannot leave it alone. A 1/2 hour after having it for dinner, she can find me in the kitchen nibbling at bits and pieces.