SWEET AND SOUR PINEAPPLE HAM

RECIPES THAT WILL END UP BEING YOUR FAVORITES BECAUSE THEY LOOK SO FANTASTIC AND YET ARE DECEPTIVELY EASY TO MAKE

This is one of those recipes that you can put together at the last minute and know that it will always turn out and will never fail to impress. It's a little like having an old friend who just stays in the background and doesn't ask for much, but she always there when you need her. Everyone needs a friend like that. Not only is this a last-minute wonder and a dependable one at that, it's also SIMPLE and that's what we're all about here.

First, you will need a large slice of premium ham. You can usually buy one for around three or four dollars. I think it's a good idea to keep a few of these in the freezer because they thaw out quickly and make for a great dinner on the fly. Take the ham, wash it off and dry it with a paper towel. Then fry it on a griddle or large frying pan that has been brushed with oil for 5-7 minutes on each side. Use only medium heat or it will burn. After you have cooked it, set it in the bottom of a large dish or on a platter.

Next, cut up a fresh pineapple until you have 2 cups. Or, you can use canned pineapple, but fresh is better because it has much more flavor.

Then chop up one small onion and one small green pepper. Fry them in 2 T. oil in a large frying pan until they are translucent. Keep stirring all the time. You don't want to caramelize the onions, just make them lose their whiteness.

Then combine the pineapple chunks with the peppers and onions. Add 1 C. of pineapple juice that has had 2 T. of corn starch and 1 T. Balsamic vinegar and 1 T. brown sugar added to it.

Stir them all together until the sauce thickens.
Then add 2 C. chopped tomatoes. Do not cook the pineapple/onion mixture after you've added the tomatoes. Just allow the sauce to blend their flavors together before spooning it on top of the ham.

Serve the ham with some very flavorful rice like Jasmine or Basmati. This will serve about 4-6 people.