If you love the taste of a Christmas Ham – but the cost puts you off, then try this recipe for a mid-year Christmas Ham at the fraction of the cost. But with that same delicious flavour.
I discovered this recipe a few years ago and have made it several times now. Each time I cook it the aromatic smell of gloves & ham nearly cooked brings the hubby into the kitchen to see when dinner will be ready to eat!
I remember my mum making soup with a bacon hock as the base – loads of vegetables, lentils and a can of tomatoes served with toast.  Pea and Ham is also a really popular soup with bacon hock. We enjoy a bowl of soup too – but it wasn’t a favourite meal for a teenage boy!
A bacon hock will cost around $8-$10 and will feed four with this recipe – and the children will love it!

Ingredients:

• 1 Bacon Hock
• 430-450g can pineapple pieces
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
• 4 whole cloves
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• fresh herbs

Remove the rind from the bacon hock.

Place pineapple pieces and juice in a Slow Cooker. Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl and then spoon into the slow cooker.

Add the bacon hock to the slow cooker.

Cover and cook on high for 4 – 4 1/2 hours.

Cut the bacon off the bone and serve with mash potatoes. Spoon over the glaze and pineapple pieces. Garnish with fresh herbs.

Serves 4

The slow cooker is your friend as a working mum whether you are at home with the children, or at the office – this is one of those recipes that you will use on the weekend too.

I prepared this recipe and put the timer on in the late afternoon yesterday and gave myself the rest of the day off ! Isn’t that what the weekend is for?

Happy cooking xx