Baked Spiced Sweet Potatoes and Pears (Creole)

Ingredients

• 4 ounces unsalted 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, halved lengthwise, cut into 1/3-inch slices
• 4 large bartlett pears, crisp, peeled halved, cored & cut into 1/4-inch slices

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400 degrees F & butter a 13"x9" glass baking dish.

2. 2

   In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir butter, cane syrup, pear nectar, vanilla, Bourbon & OJ until butter melts.

3. 3

   Increase heat & boil until mixture is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat & whisk in the cinnamon, nutmeg & salt.

4. 4

   Arrange1/3 of the potato slices in the prepared baking dish, then top with half of the pear slices, & then with another 1/3 of the potato slices. Finally, arrange the remaining slices of potato & pear on top & on their edge, alternating potato & pear, & overlapping slightly.

5. 5

   Sprinkle lightly with salt, then pour the cane syrup mixture over everything.

6. 6

   Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil & bake until sweet potatoes are nearly tender, about 1 hour.

7. 7

   Uncover & bake until completely tender, basting occasionally with the syrup, for about 20-30 minutes longer, checking with a toothpick or knife point to make sure the potatoes are completely tender.

8. 8

   Spoon the syrup over the sweet potatoes & pears one last time & serve hot.