Aretha Franklin's Secret to a Flavorful Holiday Ham
Aretha Franklin, the iconic Queen of Soul, possessed a culinary talent as profound as her musical prowess. Her holiday ham recipe, celebrated for its unique flavor, reveals a surprising secret ingredient: Vernors ginger ale. This distinctive addition transformed her ham glaze, infusing it with a taste deeply rooted in Detroit culture. Franklin's approach to preparing this festive dish, which involved consistent basting and a special blend of ingredients, elevated a traditional holiday meal into a cherished family legacy.
In 1999, Aretha Franklin appeared on Martha Stewart Living, showcasing her Thanksgiving ham preparation. During the segment, Franklin demonstrated her unique glazing technique, which she revealed involved brown sugar, yellow mustard, and, unexpectedly, Vernors ginger ale. She explained that the ginger ale, a Detroit staple, imparted a distinctive Michigan flavor to the ham. Franklin emphasized the importance of basting the ham every 20 minutes to achieve a perfectly glazed finish. Martha Stewart herself lauded the ham's appearance, calling the glaze "gorgeous."
Franklin proudly stated that this was her family's traditional recipe, affectionately known as "Miss Franklin's Annual and Any-Old-Time Baked Ham." This dish was an annual fixture in her household, embodying a culinary heritage passed down through generations. The segment highlighted not just a recipe, but a piece of Franklin's personal history and connection to her hometown. The inclusion of Vernors ginger ale was a nod to her roots, making the ham not just delicious but also a cultural statement.
Years later, in 2012, Franklin again shared her holiday ham recipe on LIVE with Kelly and Michael. While still featuring Vernors, she presented the dish as "ReRe’s Christmas New Bethel Ham," honoring the Detroit church where her father served as pastor for decades. This time, she provided a more detailed method, including scoring the ham and adding cloves. The glaze ingredients were refined to five cups of brown sugar, five tablespoons of yellow mustard, one cup of ginger ale, and one-third cup of pineapple juice. Franklin instructed to bake the ham after an initial "sweating" period at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring a juicy result. The final touches involved pineapple slices, maraschino cherries, and a generous sprinkle of shredded coconut.
Aretha Franklin's holiday ham, with its unique Vernors ginger ale glaze, represents a delightful fusion of personal heritage and culinary innovation. Her dedication to family traditions and her ability to impart a touch of her Detroit roots into her cooking made this ham a beloved and memorable dish. It stands as a testament to her multifaceted talents, proving that her artistry extended beyond the stage and into the kitchen, leaving a flavorful legacy for all to savor.