Adam's Candied Ham Jerky

Adam's Candied Ham Jerky 

12 oz Sliced Ham (sliced thin in 1-3 inch pieces off a whole ham leg)
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
6 oz Dr. Pepper soda
1/2 tsp cayenne powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper

Slice off pieces of pre-baked ham off of whole ham leg. On medium heat melt butter in a large skillet, add brown sugar, maple syrup, and Dr. Pepper. Stir until a caramel-like glaze is bubbling. (Glaze must be thin at first...if it is too thick add more Dr. Pepper) Add ham to skillet and coat ham with glaze.  When ham is evenly coated on both sides, crank up the burner to high, and then continue to stir ham pieces in skillet flipping them over occasionally to coat both sides. As the water in the glaze evaporates the glaze will thicken. Keep stirring faster and faster as the glaze becomes sticky. DO NOT STOP STIRRING - or else the glaze will burn. The meat will begin to turn a bright red color and will shrink in size. At this point sprinkle on the salt, pepper, and cayenne powder. Keep stirring until all of the water in the glaze has evaporated and the glaze is fully coated to the ham. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and enjoy!

Copyright Adam Gaile 2012