Recipe: Slow Cooker Ham with Apple Sauce (using raisins and apple juice)

SLOW COOKER HAM WITH APPLE SAUCE
"Baked yams or sweet potatoes would make an ideal side for this sweet-savory dish, as would roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli, or buttered peas. Add some dinner rolls and you've got the makings for an easy weeknight dinner, a crowd-pleasing holiday, or anything in between."

Use a 6- to 7-quart slow cooker.

4 1/2 pound fully-cooked bone-in ham, butt half
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 sweet apple, such as Gala, peeled
3 tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons raisins
1/2 cup apple juice
10 whole cloves

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

Cut 10 thin slices from the sweet apple and set the slices aside. Core and dice the remaining sweet apple and the tart apples. In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples, raisins and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar mixture. Set aside.

Place the apple juice in the slow cooker, then add the ham, flat side down. Sprinkle the ham with the remaining brown sugar mixture, pressing it to adhere. Scatter the diced apple mixture around the ham. Arrange the apple slices over the surface of the ham, securing each slice with a clove.

Cover crock pot and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the ham is heated through and the apples are tender.

Transfer the ham to a cutting board and let it rest 15 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, strain the apple mixture in the slow cooker, reserving the solids.

Thinly slice the ham. Serve with the strained apple mixture on the side.

Makes 10-12 servings
Courtesy of Katie Jasiewicz, katiescucina.com
Source: National Pork Board