Easter Ham

Our most recent Easter's have been spent as a "picnic" at the park after the annual egg hunt at my parents. We bake a ham beforehand, bring it, along with other BBQ foods, and gather the family together at our beloved "spot" at the state park...right on the beach, next to the playground. We fire up the grill, warm up our ham slices for hot ham sandwiches, peel and eat our Easter eggs, throw some hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill while we're at it, and enjoy potatoes in chip and salad form, rather than the traditional holiday mashed. It's a great change of pace and the kids in the family love it...the weather is usually milder so they're happy to not have to be "cooped up" inside at a sit down dinner.

However, this year we've decided to go "back to our roots" so-to-speak. Every Easter from the time I can remember was spent at the beach. We would stay there for a few days, the entire family would all meet up there. So, that's where we're heading! Looking forward to sunrise service on the beach (packing the kids snowsuits and boots for that...I remember wearing my pajamas under mine!), an egg hunt just over the sand dunes, and dinner out at a "fancy" restaurant. (The last part I'm not totally looking forward to...I know...it sounds nice, but a holiday dinner out at a fancy-pants restaurant with my rambunctious three year old is not a great combination. And, I admit, I will miss making my traditional holiday ham. Although I'm planning on making it for Palm Sunday instead...)

So, I thought I'd share the recipe with you...

Our Traditional Easter Ham:

Ingredients:

5lb. spiral sliced ham (or whatever size you'll need)

1C. orange juice

1C. ginger ale

Glaze:

3C. orange juice

1 C. dark brown sugar

1/2C. honey

Directions:

Prepare your spiral sliced ham according to timing and degrees on directions, mixing together 1C. OJ and 1C. ginger ale together and pouring over ham before cooking. Tent ham with foil and baste throughout cooking. About 45mins before ham is finished, start to prepare your glaze:

Mix OJ, brown sugar, and honey in med. saucepan over med. heat until melted. Turn off heat and let sit to thicken. (About 8 mins).

Remove ham about 30mins before done and cover with glaze. Return ham to oven uncovered, increase heat by 25 ° and continue to bake until finished. Glaze will become crispy. Remove from oven when done, baste with pan juices and let sit to rest about 10 mins.

Need more holiday menu ideas? Check out LifeasMom's recipe swap.