Aretha Franklin stopped by LIVE! with Kelly and Michael this morning to sing a Christmas tune and cook up her “Ree Ree’s Christmas New Bethel Ham” with hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan.
The Queen of Soul said the ham is named after the Detroit church where her father was pastor for more than 38 years. “This is the way the ladies at the church do it,” Aretha said as she prepared the ham during the show.
This recipe sounds fantastic, because for one thing, I love ham. For another, it uses Michigan-made Vernor’s Ginger Ale and lots of brown sugar.
We heard Aretha sing at Interlochen Center for the Arts a few years ago. Fantastic show.
So what does she listen to while cooking up yummy stuff in the kitchen? The O’Jays, Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway and other favorites. Check out the video and recipe below.
Ree Ree’s Christmas New Bethel Ham from Aretha Franklin
Half Picnic Ham
Cloves
5 c. Brown Sugar
5 Tbs. Yellow Mustard (more or less to taste)
1 c. Verner’s Ginger Ale
1 c. Pineapple Juice
Shredded Coconut to finish
Small can of Pineapple Rings
Small jar of Maraschino Cherries, drained
Put the ham in a baking dish, and cut into the fat on the top of the ham one inch in. Sweat the ham in oven for 20-25 minutes with the cloves inserted in between the scored sections. Remove ham from the oven to cool.
Mix the brown sugar, yellow mustard, ginger ale and pineapple juice. Pour over the ham and cover with aluminum foil.
Bake ham, until crisp, in the oven at 400 degrees. Baste every 20-25 minutes.
Remove from the oven, sprinkle with coconut and add pineapple slices and maraschino cherries. Serve.
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