Jack’s Christmas Ham

Ingredients

1 (14- to 16-pound) whole, bone-in, fully cooked ham
Brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Whole cloves
1 (15-ounce) can pineapple slices, drained and juice reserved
1 small jar maraschino cherries, drained and juice reserved
Peeled orange slices

Preparation

Wash ham in water. Place ham in brown paper grocery bag. Place in large roaster with lid and bake at 350 degrees for about 2 1/2 hours. Remove pan from oven. Tear paper bag from around ham. Trim excess fat off of ham. Score top of ham in a diamond pattern. Rub a generous amount of brown sugar over ham. Place whole cloves in scores; sprinkle ground cloves and ground cinnamon over ham. Return to oven, uncovered, and bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven. Arrange pineapple slices over top of ham and place a cherry in the center of each ring. Sprinkle reserved pineapple and cherry juice over ham. Return ham to oven, covered and bake for 45 minutes, or until meat thermometer registers 135-140 degrees. Remove lid and broil for 5 minutes to brown, if necessary. Garnish with orange slices. Makes 20-24 servings. –Jack McGaughy, Director of Pork, Horticulture and Nursery, Greenhouse & Sod Divisions