Holiday Ham A La Martha Recipes

RITA'S SWEET HOLIDAY BAKED HAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, mix together the maple syrup, orange juice, ginger ale, brown sugar and honey. Stir in the juice from the maraschino cherries, and half of the cherries. Score the outer edge of the ham with a sharp knife in a diamond pattern. Cuts should be about 1/4 inch deep. This will allow the ham to soak up the juice.
• Place the ham into an oven bag, and carefully pour the juice mixture over it, keeping all of the juice in the bag. It may look like there is too much juice, but the ham will soak it up while baking. Place the pineapples onto the top of the ham, and secure with toothpicks. Place cherries into the centers of the rings, and secure with toothpicks also. Tie the end of the bag closed with the ties provided, place in a large roasting pan, and cut a few small slits in the top of the oven bag.
• Bake the ham for 2 hours in the preheated oven. The internal temperature should be 160 degrees F (80 degrees C) when done. Be sure not to touch the bone when taking the temperature. Remove ham from bag to a serving plate, and let stand for 10 minutes before carving.

HOLIDAY HAM

Steps:

• Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Place ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Secure pineapple and cherries to ham with toothpicks. Combine brown sugar and seasoned salt; rub over ham. Gently pour pineapple juice over ham., Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until a thermometer reads 140° and ham is heated through. Baste frequently with brown sugar mixture.

HOLIDAY HAM A LA MARTHA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325ºF.
• Using a sharp knife, score surface of ham crosswise and lengthwise, forming a crosshatch pattern about 1/4-in deep and 1-in apart.
• Place 1 clove in the center of each square. Place ham, fat side up, in a double-layer disposable aluminum roasting pan and pat the brown sugar onto the surface of the ham (Expect some sugar to fall into the roasting pan)
• Transfer to oven, and bake until brown sugar just begins to melt, about 30 minutes.
• Pour Coca-Cola over ham, mixing with melted sugar in bottom of roasting pan. Baste ham with sugar/Coke mixture.
• Return to oven, and bake for 20 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, combine 1 cup reserved pineapple juice and wine in a small bowl. Baste ham with pineapple mixture.
• Bake ham for a total of 16 minutes per pound, basting every 20 minutes. During the last 20 minutes of baking time, decorate ham with pineapple rings (use 2-3 toothpicks to hold each ring in place).
• Center a cherry in the center of each ring, and attach it with a toothpick.
• Transfer ham to a platter, removing all toothpicks. Garnish ham with fresh bay leaves if desired.
• Makes 10-12 servings.