For almost every major holiday meal in our family my sister, Samantha, always asks if we can have ham. She loves it so much that her New Year’s resolution two years ago was, and I kid you not, “to eat more ham”. If that doesn’t say love, I don’t know what does. So, this year I decided to experiment with a new recipe to try for our big Christmas dinner.

A lot of standard store bought ham comes either pre-glazed or with a glaze packet that contains all kinds of refined sugars and preservatives. Yuck! So I decided to make my own glaze recipe instead, packed with all the warming and reminiscent flavors of the holidays. When you think of Christmas, what do you smell? Maybe it’s warm cookies straight from the oven or mulled wine simmering away on the stove. For me, I think of oranges, clove, and cinnamon. There is something so comforting about that smell that just makes me want to cozy up in front of a fireplace! So what better way to enjoy a Christmas feast than with a big ham packed with my favorite holiday flavors.

Since the majority of store bought hams are fully-cooked, this recipe is so easy to make and the glaze can be made ahead of time so it’s ready to brush on as soon as the ham is done cooking. While I made this recipe with a specific holiday in mind, it is well suited for any time of the year.

A Quick Note on Cured Meats: The primary difference between cured and uncured meats is that uncured meats use natural substances, such as celery powder, to preserve the meat as opposed to chemicals and additives found in cured meats.

Orange and Honey Glazed Ham (AIP/Paleo)

Ingredients:

7 – 8lb Uncured Ham – fully cooked, bone in and spiral sliced

1 cup coconut oil

2 navel oranges, sliced

2 cups orange juice

1 cup filtered water

¼ cup honey

1 inch piece of ginger, peeled

¼ tsp whole clove

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place ham, cut side down, in roasting pan and cover in foil. Bake 10 – 14 minutes per pound. I had a 7.72lb ham and baked it for 1 hour and 40 minutes.When the ham has about 50 minutes of cooking time left, start on the glaze. Place coconut oil, orange slices, orange juice, water, honey, and spices in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Once to a boil, bring to medium heat and simmer for about 30 – 40 minutes until reduced and syrupy. Once ham is fully heated, remove from oven and take off the foil. Generously brush the glaze all over the ham, making sure you push the glaze into all the crevices and slices of the ham. Place the ham back in the oven and broil for 5 – 7 minutes, until bubbly and caramelized. Remove from oven, slice, and serve!