Holiday Help: Slow-Cooker Ham

If you read my previous blog on the joy of crock-pot cooking (check the November archives), you’ll know how simple and easy it is to make satisfying meals with this versatile tool.  If you’re anything like our household, December schedules are hectic – preparing for the holidays, shopping, parties, and other functions – when do you have the time to plan that holiday meal?

Have no fear, dear reader – the Four State Food Critic is here to help.  I’ve got a great holiday dinner solution that takes virtually no set-up time and results in a delicious main dish that will not only provide that special holiday meal, but also keep you in leftovers for those lazy post-holiday munchies.

The Slow-Cooker Ham.

(Image Credit – ifood.tv)

Now, you’re saying to yourself – “do I want to do a slow cooker ham?”

 

Yes. 

 

Yes you do.

This recipe could not be simpler.

Slow Cooker Ham

•  1 eight (8) pound cured, bone-in, picnic ham (you can go smaller, depending on your crock-pot size)
•  2 cups of packed brown sugar

Spread about 1 ½ cups of brown sugar on the bottom of your slow cooker.  Place the ham (flat side down – you may have to do a few strategic cuts to get it to fit in with the lid attached) into the crock pot and cover the outside with the remaining brown sugar.  Cook on low for around 8 hours (it may take less time, depending on the size of your ham).  Remove the ham to a cutting board and slice.  You can also drizzle the sweet juices from the crock pot over your ham slices, if you wish.

That’s it. 

 

Ham – brown sugar – crock pot – time. 

 

Simple and delicious.

You’ll be surprised at how moist and juicy the meat is, plus there is that wonderful salty-sweet interplay between the ham and the brown sugar.  You've also freed up your oven for other side dishes.  Our extended family just loves this recipe and they still talk about the first time we tried it at a holiday gathering.  Who remembers a ham? 

 

The FSFC is doing one again this Christmas day, so that’s thankfully one more thing off of my own holiday “to do” list.

 

Try one yourself this year!