A baked ham studded with pineapple rings and maraschino cherries is a welcome centerpiece to a festive meal. It might be a tradition for your family for Easter or Christmas, or it can simply hearken back to days gone by.
This pineapple baked ham is made with a picnic ham, which is not a true ham. The picnic is cut from the front leg or shoulder instead of the back end of the animal. The shoulder is cured like a true ham, so it has ham flavor. A shank ham is easier to carve, but a picnic ham is more economical.
Pineapple and honey help to flavor the glaze for this tasty smoked shoulder ham. They serve the purpose of providing sweetness to offset the saltiness of the ham, so the fruit is not just there for decoration.
As well, the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality. New England colonizers would herald their returns by spearing a pineapple outside their front doors. The symbol spread throughout the American colonies and can be seen in colonial Christmas decorations.
Ingredients
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1 (5-to 7-pound) smoked picnic shoulder ham
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1 (15-ounce) can pineapple slices in juice
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1/4 cup packed brown sugar
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1/4 cup honey
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1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries
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Whole cloves, optional
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Remove the skin from the ham.
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Place the ham on a rack in a baking pan, fat-side up.
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Cover loosely with aluminum foil.
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Bake at 325 F for about 30 minutes a pound, or to 140 F on the meat thermometer.
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Place a sieve or colander over a bowl and drain the pineapple.
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Measure 1/4 cup of the pineapple juice into a saucepan.
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Add the brown sugar and honey to the saucepan and then cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally.
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Remove the foil from the ham and score the fat in a diamond pattern.
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Brush the ham with the pineapple-honey glaze mixture.
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Arrange the pineapple slices and cherries in a pattern over the top of the ham, securing with toothpicks.
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Stud with cloves, if desired, and brush again with the pineapple-honey mixture.
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Bake, uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes at 325 F, basting with the pineapple-honey mixture.
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Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
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Slice the ham in slices that are 1/4-inch thick.
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Serve your ham with your favorite savory side dishes. Suggestions include garlic mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, rice, creamed spinach, green beans with mushrooms or pearl onions, roasted asparagus, green salad, and hot rolls with butter.
Tips
- Cover and refrigerate any leftover ham. It will keep well in the refrigerator for several days.
- Enjoy slices of ham the next day for meals, rewarmed in the microwave or in a skillet.
- Sliced ham is great for sandwiches.
- Use ham slices for breakfast along with eggs and hash browns.
- Dice or cube leftover ham for use in casseroles and soups.
- Save the ham bone to use for making soup. You can freeze the bone for later use.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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503 | Calories |
8g | Fat |
53g | Carbs |
57g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 10 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 503 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 8g | 10% |
Saturated Fat 3g | 14% |
Cholesterol 70mg | 23% |
Sodium 2861mg | 124% |
Total Carbohydrate 53g | 19% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 5% |
Total Sugars 29g | |
Protein 57g | |
Vitamin C 6mg | 30% |
Calcium 45mg | 3% |
Iron 2mg | 9% |
Potassium 592mg | 13% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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