From the kitchens of Amy & JJ

Hello readers! There is one word that has been wandering around my mind lately. Ham! The staple of Easter and spring gatherings. When my family made ham it was not just for a single meal. We planned the rest of the week around the leftovers. Ham sandwiches with my mother’s specialty dressing. Ham and Northern Bean soup, au gratin potatoes with diced ham, Cobb salads – the list goes on and on.

But…it starts with the ham itself. Bone in, spiral cut, or whatever style you choose, this glaze can be coated onto the ham while cooking and you end up with a savory, sweet and salty main dish. The acidity of the pineapple is cut with the sweetness of the honey. This is a great glaze for any ham, but especially if you are planning on enjoying the leftovers for the next few days.

Sweet and Tangy Ham Glaze      

3/4 C – Brown Sugar

1/4 C – Orange Juice

1/4 C – Pineapple Juice (You can use the juice from canned pineapple rings)

1/2 C – Honey

1 tsp – Allspice

1/2 tsp – nutmeg

1/2 tsp – cloves

1/4 C – Rum (Optional)

Canned Pineapple Rings (enough to decorate ham)

NOTE – Add this glaze during the LAST half hour of cooking the ham. Do not put mixture onto ham at the beginning and make sure it is not close to heating element. There is a lot of sugar in this recipe that can cause burning.

Combine all ingredients, except pineapple rings, into a saucepan and heat on a medium. The consistency will warm and become “syrupy” which indicates it is ready to go on the ham.

Remove ham from oven, apply the glaze on exposed sides, reserving a small amount by putting some into a serving dish and leaving the rest in the pan. Top with the pineapple rings (you can use a toothpick to hold if gravity doesn’t do the job) and then glaze with the remaining mixture in the pan.

Pop the ham back into the oven and when done, serve with a side of the glaze!