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COLA-GLAZED HAM
COOK TIME:  2.5 to 3.5 hours
surge@doubleincision.com

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i made this for christmas dinner several years ago and it was a hit. i don't remember where i got the recipe from, but i'm glad i wrote it down because this ham absolutely slaps, and it's super visually impressive for being so easy to make. also, much like my mayo turkey recipe, i KNOW cooking a ham with soda sounds wacky but you're going to use it to make a sweet n tangy glaze that results in a very aesthetically pleasing, delicious ham. trust the process!

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{ INGREDIENTS }

- 1 whole fully cooked, bone-in ham
	+ use a ham that is NOT spiral cut
	+ allow the ham to reach room temperature!
- 1 can Coke, Dr. Pepper, or any other cola	
- 3 c brown sugar
- 1/2 c spicy brown or yellow mustard
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- whole cloves or 1/2 tsp ground cloves
	+ whole cloves look prettier, while ground cloves will give you a stronger clovey flavor, but require slightly different steps. which i will explain below :)

{ DIRECTIONS }

1. preheat oven to 325 F

2. use a sharp knife to score the top of the ham, in a diamond pattern. don't cut too deep, only about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch.
	+ if using whole cloves, poke them into the ham, in the center of each diamond. if using ground cloves, save them for step 4.

3. put the ham in a roasting pan and cover with foil. bake for 2 hours.

4. in a pot, heat the cola, brown sugar, mustard, and vinegar. if using ground cloves, add them to the pot now. cook on medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches a gentle boil. reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the mixture thickens into a glaze. remove from heat and set aside.

5. remove ham from the oven, remove foil, and brush on a generous layer of glaze. return to oven for 20 minutes, then remove and add another layer of glaze. repeat at 20-minute intervals until you've used up all the glaze, and continue to bake the ham until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 F.

6. once the ham is fully cooked, remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes before serving!