Recipe: Candied Yams

JJ from Nelson’s Barnyard Buffet makes traditional diced sweet potatoes baked in a brown sugar-maple glaze.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 sticks, Unsalted Butter
• 2 tablespoons, Cold Water
• ½ cup, Maple Syrup
• 2 cups, Light Brown Sugar
• Corn Starch (pre-mixed with equal parts cold water)
• 2 teaspoons, Vanilla Extract
• 6 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and diced

STEPS:

1) Peel and dice your sweet potatoes, then place them in a casserole dish. Pre-heat your oven to 350.

2) Slowly melt 2 sticks of butter in a pot on low heat. Cut them in half so they’ll melt faster. Once they’re melted, add Water, Brown Sugar, and Maple Syrup. Turn the heat up to Medium and mix well with a whisk. Once it’s mixed, stop stirring and wait for it to boil.

3) Once the glaze comes to a rolling boil, set a 1 minute timer. Mix equal parts Corn Starch and Cold Water in a separate bowl. The amount depends on how thick you want your syrup. I like mine thick. Maybe 8 teaspoons of Corn Starch and 8 teaspoons of water. Mix corn starch and water until smooth.

4) Once the minute timer goes off, add the corn starch and water. Mix. Set another 1 minute timer and allow it to boil for another minute.

5) Remove from heat once the second 1 minute timer goes off. Add vanilla extract and mix well. Pour this glaze over the sweet potatoes in your pan.

6) Bake at 350 for 90 minutes. You want to cover your dish with aluminum foil so the yams don’t burn. It’s a good idea to take them out and stir them every 20-30 minutes so the yams are all basted in flavor and less likely to dry out/burn.

7) Remove from the oven after 90 minutes and serve.

BUSINESS INFO:

• Nelson’s Barnyard Buffet
• 1020 US-43 S
• Saraland, AL 36571
• Monday-Thursday 11-7
• Friday & Saturday 11-7:30
• Sunday 11-6
• www.barnyardbuffet.com

“We are re-introducing weekday dinner hours! Starting in February, Monday-Thursday we will be extending our hours to 7pm. We will have buffet and carryout available during this time.”

Inflation Busters: $2 off an Adult Buffet Monday-Thursday from 2pm-5p