How to Make Glazed Ham With Pineapple and Cherry Garnish

The ham pictured below is not only festive looking but is also delicious. Yet it's pretty simple to prepare. In fact, it's so simple, even a beginner or novice cook can easily achieve the same results as a seasoned cook. 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.

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.

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 in 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.

• 1 (20-ounce) can sliced pineapples
• 1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (The cinnamon will be added to the ingredients that create the ham glaze. While any brand of cinnamon will do, I prefer McCormick's because it's always fresh tasting and flavorful.)
• Pinch (or 1/8 teaspoon) ground cloves (This is a very small but important ingredient in making the ham glaze.)
• 1/4 stick of butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

For the Ham

1. Place the whole ham and 1/2 cup water in foil pan that sits inside the cookie sheet. Calculate cooking time. It's about 15 minutes per pound, so for example; 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 = 5 hours cooking time plus an additional 20 minutes for glaze time.
2. Place the ham in a 350-degree oven. Cook as is for 1 hour
3. Reduce heat setting to 325 degrees. Then cover your ham with foil for the remainder of the 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, melted butter or margarine and about 1/8 cup of the juice from the pineapples. Stir together. Put in microwave for 30 seconds to melt together. Stir again( you can also use a whisk if desired) to dissolve any clumps. Cover and set aside.
2. When cooking time is up; Remove the foil, pour your glaze evenly over ham, and continue to cook uncovered for an additional 20 minutes.
3. Remove from oven and garnish with pineapple slices, (the brown sugar glaze will secure the pineapples in place) then 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.