Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Sweet Potato & Apple Casserole


Certain vegetable dishes make their way to my table regardless of the season or the holiday. I'd like to think it's because I'm a bit of a rebel, but I think it's mostly because I'm not very creative when it comes to serving vegetables in an interesting way. When I find one I like I tend to prepare it for every conceivable occasion. This yam and apple casserole is one of my favorites.

I bought a cute little cookbook at a discount store some years back entitled Autumn at the Farmers Market by Gail Greco. Apparently it's part of a Bed & Breakfast Cookbook Series. Virtually every recipe is one that I want to try.

While I think of sweet potatoes and yams as an autumn vegetable, I love the bright orange color which reminds me of spring. The apple adds a sweet flavor and another texture, and the sherry! Oh, the sherry! You have to try it to see what a difference it makes in the flavor. I cannot think of a more delicious way to prepare and present sweet potatoes.


Sweet Potato & Apple Casserole
2 pounds sweet potatoes (or yams), peeled, cut into chunks, cooked (or you could use two 16-ounce cans, drained)
1/2 cup (one stick) butter, melted
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, brown sugar
2 tablespoons dry sherry (not cooking sherry)
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch salt
2 cooking apples, cored, peeled, and sliced

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 10-inch pie plate or casserole dish.

Combine the sweet potatoes (or yams), 6 tablespoons butter, corn syrup, sugar, sherry, cinnamon and salt in a food processor and puree, or mash with a masher (which makes it chunkier, but I prefer the texture).

Spread half the mixture into your pie plate or casserole dish. Layer half of the apple slices over the mixture. Spread remaining sweet potato mixture over the apples. Add another layer of apple slices, in a decorative pattern, if you wish. Alas, I am not gifted with the art of food decoration and I am aggrieved that I do not know how to make this beautiful for you. (hanging head)

Brush the apple slices with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.

Bake for about 45 minutes or until the apples are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife.

Serves maybe 6 or 8 people, but in our house it only serves one; Ole Sweetie-pi won't go near anything that looks like squash!

16 comments:

  1. Oh Katy, This looks very good! I love both apples and yams and you have made this look so pretty.
    As for the turkey buger recipe...rice flour or gluten free flour should work in place of the bread crumbs. And mmmmmm...goat cheese. I think that sounds good too. This is going to make me change this up a few times to see what combinations and ingredients will work. Thank you for some nice suggestions.

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  2. Yay! Katypi, I have two HUGE yams that need to be used, but I don't have an apple in the house. Huh, how did that happen? I'll be trying this soon. Thanks, Kathye

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  3. I've never made much with sweet potatoes except for spicy oven fries....but this look delish!

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  4. Katy- This looks delicious, I love these flavors together.. Perfect side dish and so pretty!

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  5. Yum...this DOES look delicious and pretty all at the same time. I love the same combos. I even put cooked sweet potatoes in with beans and molasses or maple/beans for a pretty orange and brown combo and it tastes yummy good. Thanks for stopping by today Katy.

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  6. Sweet Potato and apple casseroel, that's a good idea and looks so yummy!

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  7. Oh, you Ladies, thank you so much for your encouragement and too generous compliments! I love it when you come by and visit.

    Trish, good idea about putting the sweet potatoes in with beans. I can absolutely see that working.

    HoneyB, I have not tried making sweet potato fries; I love them, too, so that will be on my to-do list.

    Kathye, I hope you try this and let me know what you think.

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  8. This looks so beautiful and delicious! It's a great combination that would taste really good to me right now!

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  9. A great side dish and sounds like a lovely flavor combo!!!

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  10. What a original combination! I never thought something like that! I like it!

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  11. Katy, this looks wonderful. I will definitely make it. So glad to visit with you. Thanks for supporting me.

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  12. OOOH Katy, that sounds and looks delicious. I've started cooking sweet potatoes a little more often and one of my favourite ways to serve them is mashed with caramelized onions. I think that apples would be a very nice addition. Thank you.

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  13. Hi, I just found your blog via Colleen's blog and I'm already hooked. These recipes look so tasty! This one in particular caught my eye and I'm adding it to my menus for sometime this week. Look forward to reading more!

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  14. I love both sweet potatoes and baked apples, I usually eat them separate but I'll have to try them like this--it sounds so good!

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  15. Thank you!!! This is a staple for Thanksgiving at our home, but the recipe disappeared! You've saved my bacon.

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  16. Glad I could help! I love this recipe and have enjoyed it too many times to count. I recently made it for a whole family of very picky eaters and big surprise (to them!!) they scraped the casserole clean!

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