Heavenly Ham vs. Store bought HELP!

[fivefordisney]

Okay, I am not a great cook and quite limited in what I serve...but, I want to make a ham tomorrow for my daughter's family 10th bday party. Of course, I have NEVER made ham and am now not sure if I should just buy a heavenly ham, or buy one from the grocery store or Sam's Club. Are they cooked already at the Sam's Club or grocery stores? I am really clueless, but am willing to learn!! Can any kind soul take pity on me and offer advice? (Oh, Please! Oh, Please!!--you know it's bad when I resort to begging!)

Thanks, in advance, for any ideas!

 

[DVC Sadie]

I have never bought a ham from Sam's Club but I have bought, eaten and enjoyed hams from The Honeybaked Ham Company. Yummy!

If I have never cooked a ham before I would buy one from a company and get a package of croissants for delicious sandwiches.

By the way, the ham from the above types of companies are Ready to eat.

Have a nice celebration.

 

[fivefordisney]

I have never bought a ham from Sam's Club but I have bought, eaten and enjoyed hams from The Honeybaked Ham Company. Yummy!

If I have never cooked a ham before I would buy one from a company and get a package of croissants for delicious sandwiches.

By the way, the ham from the above types of companies are Ready to eat.

Have a nice celebration.

We are lucky enough to have Heavenly Ham and a Honey Baked Ham stores within 15 minutes of our house. Sadly, I have never been to either of them!

 

[kuusimo]

Both Costco and Sam's Club hams are WONDERFUL as well. I put my own glaze on them (instead of the packet that comes with it) that makes them taste just like Honeybake Hams. So if you are looking to save money -do it that way. The sauce is not that difficult, but you do need to glaze the ham every 15-20 minutes. Another thing I do is put wooden skewer through the ham to keep it together while baking. The slices will start to fall down and it just helps with it not getting dried out. If you find it starting to brown to quick then place a piece of tin foil on top.

Here is the recipe:

5 pound ham
1/4 cup whole cloves
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
2 cups honey
2/3 cup butter

Preheat oven to 325
Score ham and stud with whole cloves. Place ham in foil lined pan. (this will help with clean up)
In top half of double boiler (or place a pan on top of another one with water in the bottom. This needs to cook slowly) heat corn syrup, honey and butter. Keep warm while baking the ham but not boiling.
Brush glaze over the ham and bake for 1 hour. Baste ham every 15 minutes with new glaze. During the last 4-5 minutes turn on the broiler to carmelize the glaze.
Remove from oven and let sit a few minutes before serving.

 

[fivefordisney]

Both Costco and Sam's Club hams are WONDERFUL as well. I put my own glaze on them (instead of the packet that comes with it) that makes them taste just like Honeybake Hams. So if you are looking to save money -do it that way. The sauce is not that difficult, but you do need to glaze the ham every 15-20 minutes. Another thing I do is put wooden skewer through the ham to keep it together while baking. The slices will start to fall down and it just helps with it not getting dried out. If you find it starting to brown to quick then place a piece of tin foil on top.

Here is the recipe:

5 pound ham
1/4 cup whole cloves
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
2 cups honey
2/3 cup butter

Preheat oven to 325
Score ham and stud with whole cloves. Place ham in foil lined pan. (this will help with clean up)
In top half of double boiler (or place a pan on top of another one with water in the bottom. This needs to cook slowly) heat corn syrup, honey and butter. Keep warm while baking the ham but not boiling.
Brush glaze over the ham and bake for 1 hour. Baste ham every 15 minutes with new glaze. During the last 4-5 minutes turn on the broiler to carmelize the glaze.
Remove from oven and let sit a few minutes before serving.

Thanks for the recipe. Trust me...I'll need it!! LOL

 

[plutolovr]

You can also pick up a spiral sliced ham at any grocery store. FYI they're already cooked, just need heating up. Just follow the directions on the package.

 

[mrsboz]

I vote for the spiral ham idea. All you have to do is heat it up and if you don't want to do the glaze don't. It is really good with out without it. I honestly don't get the rave about the overpriced honeybaked ham. I think a spiral ham it just as good and way cheaper. Scalloped potatoes go nice with ham are really easy to do. Maybe green bean casserole too? These are easy. You will have no trouble with these. Good luck to you.

 

[fakereadhed]

I agree with the above. The spiral hams from the grocery/Sams/Costco are already cooked. You just put them in the oven and reheat them. Couldn't be any simpler. Happy Birthday to your DD!

 

[DVC Sadie]

We are lucky enough to have Heavenly Ham and a Honey Baked Ham stores within 15 minutes of our house. Sadly, I have never been to either of them!

Well whats stopping you! Go,Go Go!! Just kidding. You will love the flavor of the Honeybaked Ham and yes I do prefer it over the Heavenly Ham. We usually buy them for Easter, Thanksging and Christmas for celebrations with family. We eat them for breakfast with croissants and have them for snacks. It just makes it easier for us. Have a great celebration.

BTW, the leftover bone is great used as a soup bone.

 

[fivefordisney]

Thanks, for all your suggestions! I am such a wimp--I sent my husband to the grocery store with a list and told him to just do whatever he wanted regarding the ham. Soooo...either I'll be cooking, heating or just refrigerating whatever he brings home! I'll let you all know!!!

Thanks, again!!!!

 

[EthansMom]

Even if you get a "cooked" ham, don't forget to check the reheating directions ahead of time. I think a large ham takes 2-3 hours to heat all the way through. I've successfully made homemade glaze and the glaze that sometimes comes with the ham -- both have worked well. We serve mustard as a condiment with our ham.

Also, another vote for serving scalloped potatoes with ham. I think the scalloped potatoes can be cooked at the same temp as reheating a ham -- I've made scalloped potatoes to go with ham several times and would not have done so if it couldn't be put in the oven at the same time.

Enjoy the party!

 

[MAKmom]

BJ's now have the spiral hams in GOLD FOIL that are already glazed. Just make sure you have tin foil to cover it when you cook it. Buy a disposible pan at the $ store. Since this is a 10 year old's party get the large macaroni & cheese in the pan....let it defrost so it heats quickly.

 

[DaisyD]

I've had the Sams and Costco spiral ham and also a Heavenly Ham. There is NO comparison! The Heavenly Ham is worth every penny. I like them better then HoneyBaked also.

 

[Skatermom23]

I've had the Sams and Costco spiral ham and also a Heavenly Ham. There is NO comparison! The Heavenly Ham is worth every penny. I like them better then HoneyBaked also.

For years we have bought the Hillshire Farm Brown Sugar Ham. My family just loves this! Last year, we spent the holidays with Mom and she insisted on a Heavenly Ham. My kids wouldn't even touch it! I don't know if it was a case of *you eat what you are familiar with* or they really didn't like it. BTW, my kids are teens, so not that picky really. But, Mom, who has eaten with us and our Brown Sugar Ham thought ours was better! Mine only cost $20 to her $60!

 

[DaisyD]

For years we have bought the Hillshire Farm Brown Sugar Ham. My family just loves this! Last year, we spent the holidays with Mom and she insisted on a Heavenly Ham. My kids wouldn't even touch it! I don't know if it was a case of *you eat what you are familiar with* or they really didn't like it. BTW, my kids are teens, so not that picky really. But, Mom, who has eaten with us and our Brown Sugar Ham thought ours was better! Mine only cost $20 to her $60!

My kids don't like the Hillshire Farm ham and neither do I. We prefer the Heavenly. We don't save getting it for special occasions either. We get it year round.

 

[fivefordisney]

Well, my husband came home with a 10 pound Heavenly Ham, It was delicious!! We have SOO much leftover! Note to self: we don't need the 10 pound ham for 12 adults and 8 kids!

I made a "gourmet" potato casserole (frozen hashbrown potatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup and 1/3 onion, grated with crushed corn flakes on top) which was really good, green beans with almonds, and deviled eggs. I bought cole slaw from Acme, gorgeous red strawberries, baby carrots and croissants and rolls. I think the meal was enjoyed by all.

Unfortunately, I still don't know how to cook a ham! Thank goodness for Heavenly Ham and the like!!!

Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[mdhkitten]

Well, my husband came home with a 10 pound Heavenly Ham, It was delicious!! We have SOO much leftover! Note to self: we don't need the 10 pound ham for 12 adults and 8 kids!

I made a "gourmet" potato casserole (frozen hashbrown potatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup and 1/3 onion, grated with crushed corn flakes on top) which was really good, green beans with almonds, and deviled eggs. I bought cole slaw from Acme, gorgeous red strawberries, baby carrots and croissants and rolls. I think the meal was enjoyed by all.

Unfortunately, I still don't know how to cook a ham! Thank goodness for Heavenly Ham and the like!!!

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Can you please give me your potato casserole recipe? Is sounds WONDERFUL and really easy! Thanks!

 

[fivefordisney]

Can you please give me your potato casserole recipe? Is sounds WONDERFUL and really easy! Thanks!

Sure! They are really easy and very tasty!
Easy "Gourmet" Potato Casserole

26 oz bag of frozen hash browns
1 can creamy mushroom soup
16 oz sour cream
8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
1/3 to 1/2 small onion, grated or chopped very fine
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together in a large bowl and put in a flat casserole. Sprinkle with crushed cornflakes. Drizzle with melted butter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

 

[Pigeon]

Glad your dinner was yummy.

If you are really interested in expanding your cooking horizons in the future, honestly, there is no easier dinner to make for company than ham. The spiral sliced ones in particular are a breeze. The directions are right on the package and the hams are pretty inexpensive. If you could handle the potato casserole, you can surely dump the ham in a pan, drizzle the glaze over it and stuff it in the oven.

 

[DisneyAunt]

Your cassarole sounds wonderful!!

I "learned" a few years ago how to cook a ham. Not a spiral sliced one, but a shank or butt in bone one. I must tell you it comes out wonderful. I was so intimadated at cooking one and once a good friend of mine told me how easy it was I try to make one when all the family is together, or shall I say they request it.

What I do is buy a shank or butt ham, make sure it is not spiral sliced, you will have to slice it on your own. The one I buy is partially cooked it's available at the grocery store. I soak it in pineapple juice for 2-3 days....I have also left it in for more time than that. Of Course you must keep it refrigerated. I also turn it everyday make sure it marinates well. The morning I plan on cooking it....I boil (slow boil or simmer) it for an hour or so in the pineapple juice. Make sure you reserve about 2-3 cups of pineapple juice, the one it soaked in. If the liquid doesn't cover the ham when you boil...just add some water. I do this so that it gets tender adn also to draw some of the salt out. After I boil it...I put it in roaster pan and decorate it with sliced pineapple, cherries and some cloves, I also score it. With the pineapple juice I reserved I add brown sugar...not sure how much...I just mix it in until it looks "sweet". LOL I pour it over the ham and then I cover the pan tightly with foil and put in 400 degree oven depending I usually do about 15 minutes per pound ...sometimes less. I just got a convection oven and haven't quite mastered the time yet. Don't be tempted to open the foil.....the juices will steam the ham and it will literally fall of the bone. I usually take the foil off the last 15-20 minutes of cooking if the ham needs some browning. It always comes out great!!

I hope this helps anyone attempting to cook a "real" ham.