Slow Cooker Ham, Raspberry-Pear Salad

Slow Cooker Ham

INGREDIENTS:

1 (6 pound) bone-in country ham 30 whole cloves 3 cups apple cider, or as needed 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon ground nutmeg 2 teaspoons ground ginger 2 tablespoons ground cloves 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (optional) 1 orange's peel

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Press whole cloves into the ham so they are evenly distributed. You may score the ham for easier insertion if you wish. Place the ham in a slow cooker. Pour in apple cider until only about 2 inches of ham is above the surface. Pack the brown sugar on top of the ham, pressing into the cloves. This will get washed away in the next step but any that stays on is a bonus.
2.	Pour the maple syrup over the ham. Season the apple cider with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, ground cloves and vanilla. Add the orange peel to the pot. Fill the slow cooker as full as you can with apple cider without going over the fill line. Cover and set to Low. Cook for 8 to 10 hours.

I used a dinner ham that had no bone in it.  I cut the recipe in half and did only 7-8 cloves and 1/2 tbsp cinnamon instead of 1 tbsp.  Next time I will shorten the cooking time to 4-5 hours on low.  This had a great flavor.

Raspberry-Pear Salad

spinach

pear, cut up

raspberries

poppyseed dressing (I like Brianna's)

sliced almonds (optional)

Put spinach in a bowl.  Add desired amount of dressing and toss.  Add fruit and top with almonds, if desired.

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