Candied Yams for Recipe Friday
Today I want to share a recipe that is new for me, something I made for Christmas dinner that I’ve never made before – Candied Yams. I don’t know why I decided to make them. My husband was actually not too thrilled when I told him we were having yams with our spiral ham on Christmas Day. “I don’t think I like yams,” he said. I made them anyway, but made sure we also had mashed potatoes and gravy as well as a vegetable that I know he likes to round out the meal.
Since I had never made Candied Yams before, I had a little research to do. I started by asking the produce guy at my local Safeway whether I should use yams or sweet potatoes for the dish that has little marshmallows on top. He said to use yams, so I bought three big ones. I ended up only using two of them.
Next, I searched the Internet for various recipes for Candied Yams (many of which called for sweet potatoes). I found a variety of recipes and eventually created my own based on a conglomeration of the ideas I’d gleaned from the recipes I read. This recipe is the result. I think it turned out pretty good, and my husband even ate some and said they were good. My son liked them, too.
There are only three of us so there were lots of leftovers. A big family dinner would be a better time to make these Candied Yams.
Candied Yams
Ingredients:
2 large yams
1 small (6 oz) can pineapple tidbits
½ cup dark brown sugar
¼ to ½ cup pecans
½ tsp nutmeg
salt
little marshmallows
Directions:
Peel yams and cut into cubes. Boil in enough water to cover, with a little salt, until yams are tender. Drain and return to pan. Add pineapple tidbits and juice, brown sugar, pecans, nutmeg, and salt. Mash and combine with a potato masher.
Turn yam mixture out into an 8″ square baking dish. Bake for 1 hour in 275° oven (if also baking a spiral ham) or for 35 to 40 minutes in a 350° oven (if also cooking a roast or turkey). Remove from oven and cover the top with little marshmallows. (If you want to, you can line them up all nice and neat, but I didn’t have the patience for that, so I just poured a bunch out and made sure the top was covered). Return to the oven and broil on center rack on low broil heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until marshmallows are browned and a little bubbly.
Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes before serving. Note that this dish really holds its heat – we all almost burned our tongues on it.
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Well, now I know I’m not crazy after all, what a relief! I’m having yams with my spiral ham dinner on New Year’s Day! And I’m making au gratin potatoes, as well (homemade, if you’re curious). Green beans, and probably black eye peas–because I grew up thinking it was a law. And a homemade pecan pie (though I cheat and buy the roll-out pie crust in the dairy case). Thanks so much–and you have a wonderful New Year’s!!
Caddo, Check out my pecan pie recipe. I used to use the refrigerator crust, until one time the store was out. I bought a Marie Callendar’s frozen instead. It is sooooo much better! Sounds like a yummy News Years Dinner, though I’ve never had black eyed peas. 🙂 Peace and Joyous New Year’s, Linda
A million thanks for the tip on Marie’s frozen crust–this will save me a lot of grief next year!! It never occurred to me to check the frozen aisle! Two hours till my guests get here, and I’m sick with a cold–can’t believe it! Never mind–I think the black eye peas will be good–I got a frozen bag, sauted a bit of red onion in bacon grease, then poured the drippings from the ham & just a little water over the peas & onion, and let them marinate in the fridge overnight–I’ll just warm them up today!! Thanks again–Lord bless you!
I’m with Linda . . .lacking that basic instinct that knows what tastes good together and what to do. 🙂 Note to self . .. be more fearless in the kitchen! I haven’t tried yams before nor cooked with them. I’ll ask my hubby what he thinks. 😉
God bless you and yours as you share recipes with us!
Deb, I learned recently that there are supposed to be 365 verses in the Bible about not fearing! So fear not! Just try it, and if it doesn’t work out, don’t make it again. 🙂 I do have a little help when it comes to spices and herbs. I have a cookbook with a chart telling you what spices and herbs go with which things. It’s a really old cookbook, but I pull it out a lot. Maybe I will use some of my Recipe Friday’s in 2012 to share the info from this chart. Peace and Joyous New Year, Linda
I love candied yams, and really enjoyed your fb pic of the family enjoying them together. Your remark about combining ideas from web recipes is a marvel to me. That type of thing is a talent you’re either born with or not.
Since we were limited by my husband’s injury this year, I made Lean Cuisine turkey, green beans, and mashed potatoes with cranberry relish. Some nice candied yams would have hit the spot! ; )
Linda, The trick to combining and modifying recipes is to not fear failure. Because sometimes that is what happens. My turkey meatball recipe is a perfect example. I suffered through (or more accurately, my family suffered through) at least three experimental attempts that were not very good before I got it right. I think I just got lucky with the yams working out on the first try. 😉 Peace, Linda