Effortless Slow Cooked Honey Mustard Spiral Ham: Your Ultimate Guide to a Perfect Holiday Meal

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ForTheLoveOfHam#CollectiveBias

Transform your holiday dinner with this incredibly easy, show-stopping slow-cooked spiral-cut ham, featuring a rich brown sugar rub and a tangy honey mustard glaze. It’s not just scrumptious; it’s practically mess-free, making it the perfect centerpiece for any celebration.

Every holiday season brings with it the familiar quest for the perfect main dish. Something that impresses guests, fills the home with tantalizing aromas, and doesn’t leave the cook in a state of utter exhaustion. Enter the glorious spiral-cut ham. Specifically, this Slow Cooked Honey Mustard Ham recipe, which promises all the splendor without the stress.

I recently had an experience at Walmart that perfectly encapsulated the magic of a truly great ham. I was browsing the ham selection, a task many of us undertake around the holidays, when a delightful elderly lady, sporting a glittery newsboy cap with a charming bow, approached me. Without hesitation, she pointed directly to a Hormel Cure 81 Cherrywood Bone-in Ham. “This one,” she declared, tapping on the foil-wrapped package, “is the best ham I’ve ever eaten in my whole life. My son made one for Thanksgiving dinner last week, and we just had to have more.” She went on to explain that this particular ham wasn’t available in her hometown, prompting a special trip to stock up. As she loaded several hams into her cart, her enthusiasm was infectious. She even asked her husband, “Just one more?” with a hopeful laugh, and he simply shook his head, likely already envisioning a fridge overflowing with delicious ham.

That, my friends, is true ham love. When a product is so good that it inspires strangers to sing its praises and drives people to buy a cart-full, you know you’ve found something special. I regret not capturing a photo of her with her impressive collection of hams; it would have been a testament to pure culinary devotion.

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Hearty Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup: A Flavorful One-Pot Meal for Cozy Evenings

There’s a common misconception that soup can’t be a satisfying meal on its own. Let me tell you, this Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup shatters that notion completely. It’s incredibly hearty, wonderfully filling, and bursting with rich flavors that will make your taste buds sing. Imagine robust Italian sausage, an abundance of fresh, colorful vegetables, and tender, savory cheese tortellini, all swimming in a deeply seasoned broth. This isn’t just a soup; it’s a complete culinary experience, easily prepared in just about 40 minutes.

When you’re looking for a simple yet profoundly satisfying dinner, this recipe delivers. Serve it alongside a generous helping of garlic bread, perhaps baked in foil for extra convenience, and you’ve got a one-pot wonder that will quickly become a family favorite. It’s the kind of meal that warms you from the inside out, perfect for those evenings when you crave comfort and incredible taste without spending hours in the kitchen.

Embracing Soup Season: A Personal Dive into Comfort Food

Oh, the joys of cooler weather! If you’re anything like me, you eagerly await the crisp air, the changing leaves, and the blissful absence of mosquitoes. For me, the advent of autumn and winter means one glorious thing: soup season is officially here! And let’s not forget the arrival of clementine season – a sweet bonus. It’s no surprise then that last week was a “super souper” kind of week at my house; I had soup practically every day. There’s something so inherently comforting and satisfying about a steaming bowl of homemade goodness.

The colder temperatures recently provided the perfect excuse for a big family dinner at my place following our town’s quaint holiday parade (and yes, the beautiful float my colleagues and I crafted, sadly, did not win). It was a delightful gathering where everyone contributed a crockpot full of their favorite soup. We enjoyed a fantastic smorgasbord, ranging from classic chicken noodle and a surprising dill pickle soup (don’t knock it till you try it!), to creamy homemade mushroom, a rich seafood chowder, and a decadent beef bourguignon. It was a feast for the senses, and quite serendipitous, as I was already planning to make this very Tortellini Soup for the blog!

With the kids home for Thanksgiving break, they’ve been full of energy, even coercing me into watching exercise infomercials with them tonight! So please, bear with my slightly cheesy jokes, as my mind is still reeling from synchronized jumping jacks. But back to the star of the show: this delightful Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup!

What Makes This Tortellini Soup So Special?

Unlike many tortellini soups that often feature a chicken or vegetable broth base, my recipe uniquely uses a rich beef broth. This distinctive choice imparts a deeper, more robust flavor profile that sets it apart. If you’re a fan of the classic Italian minestrone, then you are absolutely going to adore this soup. The flavors are remarkably similar, offering that satisfyingly hearty and savory experience that comfort food connoisseurs crave.

While there is a little bit of chopping involved to get those fresh vegetables ready, the overall prep work for this soup is straightforward and surprisingly quick. You’ll spend minimal time at the counter and more time enjoying the delicious aromas filling your kitchen. This is truly one of those dependable, go-to recipes that you’ll find yourself making again and again, especially when you need a simple weeknight dinner that doesn’t compromise on taste or heartiness.

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