Nana's Smiley Face Ham!

When my mother's grandchildren were small, they all liked to get in the kitchen and cook with her.  They would make Christmas cookies and cupcakes and fry hoe cakes and just make all sorts of good things.  That is when the smiley face ham was born.  The kids all got a kick out of putting the face on this baked ham.  It is also a really good recipe for a delicious baked ham. 

One year my mother received a package from the four grandchildren who lived away from Kentucky in the mail. They had made her a special T-shirt that they decorated with their own artwork and my oldest niece, Whitney had written her own personalized little letter.  She talked about the smiley face ham and Nana letting them help her cook. She also mentioned trips to McDonald's, but remember, everything in moderation...lol.

My mother has kept this for close to twenty years and probably still has the shirt also. My point is that if you have children or grandchildren or nieces and nephews, get them in the kitchen with you and let them make a mess. Those messes will be memories you will both cherish in years to come and if you teach children to cook early in life, it sticks with them and hopefully, we will have future generations of children who like to cook and eat home cooked meals again. 

Now on to the ham recipe. First, you need any ham of your choosing.  I am partial to the Kentucky Legend hams.  I just don't think you can buy any better, but use whatever you like.  Mix together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp. allspice, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. hot sauce, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, and 1/2 tsp. yellow mustard.  Pour over the ham and cover it with foil.  My mother bakes this in a preheated 300 degree oven for 15 minutes per pound which works well. 

 Here is a baking tip I use, place it in a 350 degree preheated oven for 2 hours.   Turn the oven off after 2 hours and DO NOT OPEN the door of the oven.   Leave the ham in the oven until it has cooled completely down.   The ham will be so tender and just perfectly cooked when you take it out and will actually still be warm.  It continues to slow cook in the hot oven after it is turned off.

Nana's Smiley Face Ham!