Ham with Cherry Sauce

Turn a baked ham into a festive meal with this colorful and easy to make Cherry Sauce. Canned or frozen tart cherries, pineapple juice and Equal provide the necessary flavor.

33% calorie reduction from traditional recipe

Ham:
3 pound fully cooked boneless ham
Whole cloves
Fresh parsley sprigs

Cherry Sauce:
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) red tart pitted cherries in juice, undrained
2/3 to 3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
Red food coloring (optional)

*May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Place ham in roasting pan; stud with cloves. Roast ham in preheated 325 degree F oven for about 1 1/2 hours or until thermometer inserted in center of ham registers 160 degrees F.

For Cherry Sauce, drain cherries, reserving juice in a 2-cup glass measure. Add enough pineapple juice to make 2 cups. Combine juice mixture and lemon juice in medium saucepan. Whisk in cornstarch until smooth.

Heat to boiling, whisking constantly. Stir in cherries. Cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through. Stir in Equal and food coloring.

Slice ham and arrange on platter. Place bowl for the Cherry Sauce in center. Garnish with parsley.

NOTE: 2 packages (16 ounces each) frozen unsweetened pitted cherries, thawed, can be substituted for canned cherries. Drain cherries thoroughly. Add enough pineapple juice to make 2 cups. Proceed as recipe directs.

Makes 16 servings

Nutrition information per serving: 156 cal., 18 g pro., 9 g carb., 5 g fat, 45 mg chol., 1027 mg sodium

Food exchanges: 2 1/2 lean meat, 1/2 fruit