Sweet Potatoes & Pears With Bourbon Glaze

This Christmas I was looking for a sweet potato recipe that did not have the melted marshmellow topping. We found this on gumbopages and have to thank "The Oregonian Food Section" for such a wonderful recipe. The bourbon cooks off and leaves a very rich flavor to complement the pears and sweet potatoes. YUMMY! NOTE: Cane syrup can be difficult to find; I made my own using 1-1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water. Boil until syrupy.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 3⁄4 cup  cane syrup
• 1⁄2 cup  pear nectar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 cup  bourbon whiskey
• 1  tablespoon  orange juice
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 4  large sweet potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, cut into 1/3-inch slices (yams)
• 4  large bartlett pears, peeled, halved, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Butter a 13x9x2" glass baking dish.
3. Stir butter, cane syrup, pear nectar, vanilla, Bourbon and orange juice in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the butter melts. Increase heat and boil until the mixture is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, then whisk in the cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
5. Arrange 1/3 of the sweet potato slices in baking dish. Top with half of the pear slices, then 1/3 of the sweet potato slices. Arrange the remaining slices of sweet potato and pear on top, alternating sweet potato and pear slices, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle lightly with salt, then pour the cane syrup mixture over. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil.
6. Bake until the sweet potatoes are nearly tender, about an hour. Uncover and bake until sweet potatoes are completely tender, check with a toothpick or knife point to make sure the sweet potatoes are completely tender.
7. Recipe can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, cover with foil and refrigerate. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for about 30 minutes; spoon the syrup over the sweet potatoes and pears and serve hot.