Giving Thanks: Coca-Cola Infused Ham

My family are true carnivores...and at every Thanksgiving, I am tasked with making ham.  Not just any old ham, nope.....these people want my version of a Coca-Cola Ham.  Made with real Coke, pineapple, brown sugar and stone ground mustard - the end result is tender meat with a crunchy, sweet crust.


TIPS:
1) I like to use a fully cooked, spiral ham.  There's something about those even slices, which can hold all of the sweet goodness in their folds that I love.  And - it's easier to cook, especially if you've got to do a turkey also.

2) Use original Coca-Cola...not a generic brand and not Pepsi!  Coke's unique "formula" give just the right "zip" to this dish.


Ingredients
1 (10-12 pound) spiral ham, fully cooked
2 cups of Coca-Cola
1 cup of dark brown sugar
1 1/2 cups of crushed pineapple (canned is fine)
2 tablespoons of stone ground mustard

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare pan for roasting

2) Remove the ham from it's packaging and rinse.

(pineapple, brown sugar and mustard)

3) Mix pineapple (and it's juice), brown sugar and mustard in a small bowl.  Rub into the surface of the ham, making sure to get the mixture inside of the slices of meat.

(Ham is ready for the oven)

4) Place ham in the roasting pan and pour the cola over the entire surface.

5) Bake until thoroughly heated, approximately 2 - 2.5 hours.  Remember to baste the meat with the pan drippings every 20 minutes to ensure flavor saturation.

6) Once the ham is heated, remove to a serving platter and allow to rest 20 minutes before serving.