An Aspen Cove Thanksgiving Feast
It’s November, which means that Thanksgiving is right around the corner for those who live in the United States of America!
In Aspen Cove, the town celebrates with a big community Thanksgiving feast, where everyone brings a dish to share. In One Hundred Merry Memories, Amanda, who was brought to Aspen Cove by one of Bea’s pink letters, decides to make Bea’s signature pineapple ham. She found the recipe while delving into the boxes of ornaments and other treasures in the cabin she inherited from Bea. Amanda knows that Bea’s memory lives on in the town, that her pink letters helped to bring life to this tiny Colorado town where no one is a stranger—just someone you haven’t met yet. Amanda makes it as an homage to Bea, and as a symbol of unity, something Bea greatly valued.
Want a taste of Aspen Cove? Here’s Bea’s coveted ham recipe:
Bea’s Beautiful Pineapple-Glazed Ham
No celebration in Aspen Cove is complete without Bea’s pineapple-glazed ham. The leftovers would make great sandwiches … if there were any leftovers.
1 7-9 lb fully-cooked, bone-in ham
1 ½ c pineapple juice
1 c brown sugar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
¼ tsp ground cloves
1 can pineapple slices
I jar maraschino cherries without stems
Toothpicks
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Set the ham cut-side down in a large roasting dish. Make the ham pretty by attaching the pineapple slices (using the toothpicks) all over the ham, in whatever pattern you please. Again, using the toothpicks, affix a cherry in the middle of each pineapple slice. This is your masterpiece, so have fun with it!
Bake the ham for 30 minutes. While baking, put the glaze ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the mixture reduces to a syrup. Remove from burner.
After the initial 30 minutes of baking time, remove the ham from the oven. Brush glaze over the ham. Return to the oven and bake for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and brush additional glaze on the ham. Return to oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Remove again and brush the remaining glaze over the top of the ham. Return to oven and bake until a meat thermometer reads 140 degrees, about 30 more minutes.
Remove your masterpiece from the oven. Don’t forget about all of those toothpicks when you start slicing!
Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish, like Bea with her ham? Something that everyone looks forward to, that they would be disappointed if it wasn’t on the table? I would love to hear about it!
Want to make more Aspen Cove favorites? Grab a copy of One Hundred Merry Memories, where you’ll find more recipes for dishes you’d find at their feast!