An Easy and Inexpensive Easter Meal

When I first married my husband, I didn't cook. One of the first things I tried to cook was my mother- in- law's ham recipe. I don't know where she discovered this recipe, but it works every time. My mother- in-law is gone now, but we still honor her by making her ham recipe for Easter every year.

Grandma Anna's No Fuss Ham

Ingredients:

One Ham with bone - The ham can be any size. I prefer one with a bone in it so I can make pea soup with it afterwards and this recipe seems to work best using a Ham with a bone. In addition, leftovers of this ham freeze well and reheated so making extra isn't a problem

1 Bottle of Orange Soda ( I like Orange Crush the best)

½ of 1 pound bag/box of Dark Brown Sugar ( Save the other half of the box for the Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe Below)

1- 16oz can of crushed Pineapple - well drained

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees
2. Remove ham from packaging and place in a deep pan.
3. Cut top of ham with X-marks making sure you pierce the skin of the meat
4. Pour ½ of the bottle of Orange Soda on top of the ham
5. Pack Dark brown sugar all over the ham forming a crust
6. Place the crushed Pineapple on the top of the ham slowly so that the brown sugar crust is not washed away.
7. Pour remaining portion of Orange Soda on top of the ham. Make sure you pour it gently and evenly or you will wash away the Sugar and Pineapple
8. Cover the ham and seal the Pan's edges with tin foil creating a tent and place in the oven to cook.
9. Cooking times vary depending on the type of ham purchased. So read the cooking directions normally listed on the ham's label. If you can't find the ham's cooking directions, I normally cook my ham about 15 minutes per pound.

I usually make mashed sweet potatoes, rolls, and a vinaigrette salad as side dishes with the ham. This dinner is not fussy but filling and a good value especially when feeding a large group of guests.

Here is my Sweet Potatoes Recipe:

Auntie Ana's Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 lb Sweet Potatoes

½ stick butter - cut into tsp pieces

2 cups of Brown Sugar - You can use all the sugar or less of it depending on taste

Cream as needed for mashing

Tiny Marshmallows

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven 350 degrees
2. Boil Sweet Potatoes until soft and mushy
3. Pour off water and mash potatoes until smooth.
4. While mashing add butter, one piece at a time and one tablespoon of cream until the Potatoes are of a creamy consistency.
5. During the mixing start adding Brown Sugar one-quarter cup at a time, do this process until it reaches your preferred sweetness level.
6. Place mashed Potatoes into an oven proof baking dish and cover top with marshmallows.
7. Place Dish into over and cook until top of marshmallows begin to brown slightly. Don't wait until the marshmallows are completely brown if you do, it will burn.

These simple dishes make for a quick and easy Easter Dinner. In addition, you don't have to break the bank in order to serve a large group of people and the leftovers and Ham bone can be used to make more great meals and pea soup.