Leprosy Stew

There has got to be a joke here but this is literally how the card reads. Leprosy stew heralds from my paternal Great Aunt - KK's sister Mary. Mary was a NYC beatnik who apparently was chums with Andy Warhol and Truman Capote if I remember the stories correctly. 

This recipe serves 8. A friend says this reminds her of Moussakka. 

Ingredients
3 onions chopped
1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cans chick peas, chopped
1.5 cans Italian tomatoes (1 large, 1 small)
1.5 Tablespoons curry powder
1.5 Tablespoons brown sugar
1.5 Tablespoons molasses
basil
cumin seed
chili powder
oregano
2.5 pounds ham, chopped

Process

1. In a stew pot, add the first four ingredients and mix over a medium heat. 
2. Add the curry,  brown sugar, and molasses. 
3. Add the spices to taste. 
4. Add the ham and simmer slowly. 
5. Best made a day in advance so put aside in the refrigerator and reheat the next day.