Spiced Yams With Maple Syrup Food

MAPLE-GLAZED YAMS WITH ORANGE AND CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook yams in large pot of boiling salted water 3 minutes. Drain; transfer to 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Blend syrup, butter and peel in small bowl; pour over yams. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Bake yams uncovered until just tender, stirring and basting occasionally, about 30 minutes. Mix in cranberries. Continue baking until yams are very tender and juices form thick glaze, about 15 minutes longer. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve.

MAPLE-GLAZED YAMS WITH PECAN TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add yams. Cook until water returns to simmer, about 4 minutes. Drain. Rinse under cold water.
• Arrange yams in prepared dish, overlapping slightly. Season with salt. Pour syrup over yams. Dot with 3 tablespoons butter. Cover and bake until yams are almost tender, about 25 minutes.
• Mix flour and brown sugar in medium bowl. Add remaining 5 tablespoons butter. Rub in with fingers until mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix in pecans.
• Sprinkle pecan mixture atop yams. Bake yams until tender, about 20 minutes. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cool. Cover and let stand at room temperature. Rewarm, uncovered, in 375°F oven 20 minutes.)

GARNET YAMS WITH BLIS MAPLE SYRUP AND MAPLE-SUGAR STREUSEL

Steps:

• For yams:
• Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Peel yams; cut 1 inch off ends. Coarsely grate enough of yam ends to measure 1/2 cup; set aside for streusel. Discard remaining ends. Cut remaining whole yams into 1/3-inch-thick rounds. Arrange yam rounds in 4 overlapping lengthwise rows in prepared baking dish.
• Bring 1/2 cup water, maple syrup, butter, and cider vinegar to boil in small saucepan. Stir in 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour maple syrup mixture over yams. Cover baking dish tightly with foil.
• For streusel:
• Mix first 4 ingredients in small bowl. Add melted butter and rub in with fingertips until moist clumps form. Mix in reserved 1/2 cup grated yams. DO AHEAD: Yams and streusel can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate. Let yams stand at room temperature 1 hour before baking.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake yams covered until almost tender, about 40 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Sprinkle streusel over and bake uncovered until yams are very tender and streusel is golden and slightly crisp, about 35 minutes longer. Serve warm.
• Available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and natural foods stores.

GARNET YAMS WITH MAPLE SYRUP, WALNUTS, AND BRANDIED RAISINS

Steps:

• Combine brown raisins, golden raisins, and brandy in small bowl; toss to blend. Let soak at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Cook yams in large pot of boiling salted water until just barely tender, about 8 minutes. Using large slotted spoon, transfer yams to baking sheet to cool.
• Meanwhile, bring 3/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup unsalted butter to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until brown sugar dissolves. Boil 2 minutes.
• Butter 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish. Drain raisins (reserve brandy for another use). Place raisins in very large bowl. Add cooked yams, then maple syrup mixture and toasted walnut pieces. Toss gently to coat evenly, being careful to keep yams intact. Transfer yam mixture to prepared baking dish. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake yams uncovered until syrup is thick and bubbling, basting occasionally, about 55 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes and serve.

WHOLE ROASTED YAMS WITH MAPLE-ALLSPICE BUTTER

Steps:

• Mix first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly pierce potatoes all over with fork. Set potatoes directly on oven rack; bake until tender when pierced with skewer, about 1 hour. Cut cross in top of each potato. Using oven mitts to protect hands, squeeze potatoes gently in from sides, forcing crosses to open. Spoon 1 tablespoon butter into each potato. Serve, passing remaining butter separately.

ROASTED YAMS WITH MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• 1. Preheat an oven to 350°F.
• 2. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the butter, brown sugar and maple syrup and heat until the butter has melted, 2 to 3 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the yams, the butter mixture, salt and pepper and toss to coat evenly.
• 3. Transfer to a baking dish and roast, stirring every 15 minutes, until the yams are tender and caramelized, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Sprinkle with the almonds and serve immediately.