Crock pot Coca Cola ham

When I found a 2 pound ham on sale, I remembered my mom making this when I was a kid. I never buy coke but had 2 bottles from a recent trip to the Coca Cola Museum so I figured that would be a good excuse to use them. I googled the recipe and just made adjustments to this one (my adjustments are in italics.) I stopped at the bakery for onion rolls to serve with this and made a veggie as well. Super easy dinner and good, too!

Slow Cooker Cola Ham
from About.com

This easy crock pot ham recipe is very popular, made with fully cooked ham, brown sugar and mustard, and cola.

Cook Time: 8 hours (I did 6 hours because I had only 2 pounds of ham)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup brown sugar (I only used a 1/4 cup)
1 tsp dry mustard (I used just about 1 tsp. of boar's head honey mustard)
1/4 cup cola (Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper, etc.) (1 bottle of Coca Cola)
3 to 4 pound pre-cooked ham (2 pounds)

Preparation: Combine brown sugar and mustard. Moisten with just enough cola to make a smooth paste. Reserve remaining cola. Score the ham with shallow slashes in a diamond pattern. Rub ham with paste mixture. Place ham in slow cooker/Crock Pot and add remaining cola. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, then turn to low and cook for 6 to 7 hours. Serves 9 to 12.
A 5 pound ham could be cooked in a larger slow cooker. Cook for 1 hour on high, then 8 to 10 hours on low.

Apple Cake

I wanted to make an apple-ish fall dessert other than apple pie (pie just sounded too rich and syrupy). I looked through recipes and decided this one. I wanted a cake that would be light and not too cake-y. I hoped that the spices in this recipe would compliment each other and not overwhelm the apple taste either. Above all I crossed my fingers that it wouldn't turn out like a coffee cake or crumb cake. And it didn't! It was simple and yummy, the apples were soft but crisp just enough and the fall spices are so yummy. Anyway, the recipe is definitely a keeper!

Apple Cake
Everyday Food
Serves 16

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan (I used pam to spray the pan instead of butter)
2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 1/2 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks (I used 4 small gala apples. Also, I cheated and did not peel them and the chunks were small enough that it didn't make a difference with the finished product)
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (omitted because I'm not a huge fan)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
confectioners' sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9x13 inch baking pan; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
3. Add the apples, walnuts, butter, and eggs; stir just until combined.
4. Spoon into pan; smooth with a spatula.
5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool in pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar to serve

Note: Best apple for baking: Look for a hard, crisp variety that will retain its shape when baked. Gala and Golden Delicious are ideal.