We love baked yams, mashed and served with just a smidgeon of buttery spread and real maple syrup. This recipe adds pineapple and toasted walnuts for a dressier dish.

1. In advance, boil until slightly underdone (25-30 minutes):

    2 medium yams 

2. Let yams cool, then peel and cut into bite-sized cubes. 

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare medium-sized baking dish with olive oil cooking spray. 

4. In baking dish, combine:

Cubed, cooked yams

1 cup pineapple chunks (I used fresh) 

4. In small bowl, whisk together until blended:

2 Tbsp whole wheat pastry flour

4 Tbsp orange juice

6 Tbsp real maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg 

5. Pour orange sauce over yams and pineapple. 

6. Bake 20-25 minutes, spooning sauce over yams halfway through baking time. 

7. Meanwhile, on a small cookie sheet or pizza pan in same oven, toast for 5 minutes:

½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts 

8. When yams have finished baking, sprinkle toasted almonds on top and serve. Serves 4-5.