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
- Place the whole ham and 1/2 cup water in a foil pan that sits atop a cookie sheet.
- 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.
- Place the ham in a preheated 350-degree oven. Cook for 1 hour.
- 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
- In mixing bowl, add the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and about 1/8 cup of the juice from the pineapples. Stir together.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
