Ham Goes Better with Coke

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It really does as you'll find out! Elizabeth Heiskell, who wrote the cookbook, What Can I Bring? stopped by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about her Cola Ham.  Elizabeth told Tonia that this ham draws upon her southern roots, what with the brown sugar and cola.  She says you need a lot of the brown sugar to allow for a thick glaze that almost looks like a lacquer! The key to a successful Cola Ham though, she says, is to make sure you're basting the ham every 15 minutes while it's in the oven.  Very important, Elizabeth says, is to let the ham cool completely before wrapping, because the cola and brown sugar glaze will be so thick, it will stick to the foil if it hasn't finished cooling.

2 cups brown sugar

3 tablespoons orange zest

6 ounces cola, preferably Coca-Cola

1/2 cup spicy brown mustard

1/4 cup orange juice

One 14-16 pound spiral cut ham

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F.

2. In a medium sauce pan, add the brown sugar, orange zest, cola, mustard and orange juice. Warm on medium-low to medium heat until the sugar melts.
3. Place the ham on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Coat the ham with the mixture. Place in oven and bake according to package directions, and basting every 30 minutes.