Create Some Family Memories This Easter With Coca-Cola Glazed Ham!

I cannot wait for Easter this year!  We will be spending the morning with my husband's family out in a tiny mountain town in Maryland, just like we did last year, for a fun Easter brunch. It is a couple of hours away from us, but the drive is beautiful, especially this time of year. I just love it when you can see the evidence of spring around you, and bid adieu to nasty, cold winter weather! 

This year will be special, because that side of the family will be meeting our newest addition, Xander, for the very first time. Last year they met Sophie for the first time at Easter as well. (Yes, my 2 youngest kids are 12 months apart!) We have a wonderful time whenever we see them. There is always laughter, joking, and tons of wonderful and delicious food. His family is a blast to be around, too. Everyone is so laid-back and casual. My husband's grandma even chased around her adult grandchildren and blew bubbles at them! Needless to say, it's always a wonderful time, and we are looking forward to our day trip this year!

After we eat a fabulous brunch, we will be heading home. I will then prepare our Easter dinner. This year, I will be making Coca-Cola glazed ham! Yes, Coke is good in food, too! Bet you thought it was just a nice, refreshing beverage. Not so, my friends! I have used Coca-Cola to make several dishes in the past...From cakes to BBQ sauces to pork chops, chicken, and even ham! It lends a very nice flavor that helps bring out and enhance the natural flavors in the foods.

Preparing a ham is an Easter tradition we like to uphold every year. I love the way my house smells while the ham is cooking. Yum! My oldest will be helping me glaze the ham and prepare the sides this year, which he is very excited about. Of course, the hubby will have carving honors, since hacking into meat is something he enjoys doing. Must be a guy thing,lol

And of course, I love sitting down and enjoying a good meal and fun conversation with the people I love more than anything in the world. It's hard to enjoy a nice, big family feast nowadays, since everyone has busy schedules and activities. For us, Easter is one of the few days we can just relax, talk, and be a family without worrying about deadlines, homework, jobs, etc...

Here is the recipe I will be using. I may have to leave out the pineapple, though, since it aggravates my reflux. I don't want to spend all night with awful heartburn!

Ingredients:

• 1 (8 pound) boneless ham
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle cola-flavored carbonated beverage
• 1 cup grape juice
• 1 (20 ounce) can sliced pineapple, drained with juice reserved

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Use a knife to score a diagonal pattern onto the ham with the lines about 1 inch apart. Place the ham in a large roasting pan and pat brown sugar over the entire surface. Some will fall into the pan, that's okay.
3. Bake the ham in the preheated oven until the sugar is melting off of it, about 30 minutes. Remove the ham from the oven and pour the cola, grape juice and juice from the pineapple into the pan. Baste the ham with the mixture and return it to the oven.
4. Continue to bake in the preheated oven, basting every 20 minutes, for about 2 hours. Cut the pineapple rings in half. Remove the ham from the oven and float the pineapple rings in the drippings. Allow the ham to rest for about 10 minutes, then slice and serve with the pineapple and sauce.

What do you do to create happy memories with your families? I'd love to hear about them! I'd also love to hear about your favorite Coca-Cola recipes!

***Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Coca-Cola® blogging program. If I am one of the first 100 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the program, click here. ***