Slow Cooker_ The Best Cookbook Ever - Diane Phillips [131]
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon five-spice powder
coat the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or line it with a slow-cooker liner according to the manufacturer’s directions.
arrange the sweet potatoes in the slow-cooker insert. Combine the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl and pour over the potatoes in the slow-cooker insert.
cover and cook on low for 5½ to 6 hours, until the sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife.
serve the sweet potatoes from the cooker set on warm.
serves 6–8
Maple Chipotle–Glazed Sweets
Wedges of sweet potatoes glazed with smoky chipotle chile and sweet maple syrup are a wake-up call for your appetite! Serve these at your next potluck, and wait for the compliments!
8 medium sweet potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut into wedges
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons canola oil
4 chipotle chiles in adobo, minced
¼ cup maple syrup
coat the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or line it with a slow-cooker liner according to the manufacturer’s directions.
arrange the sweet potatoes in the slow cooker. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl, pour over the potatoes, and stir to coat the wedges. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, until the wedges are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife.
serve the potatoes from the cooker set on warm.
serves 6–8
Crock-Baked Sweets
Baking sweet potatoes in the slow cooker will save you the hassle of turning on the oven. You can arrange the potatoes in the slow cooker and then go off and enjoy the next six hours without worrying. The potatoes are delicious split open and slathered with butter, especially maple or honey-flavored, or you can mash them with your favorite seasonings.
6 to 8 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed
prick each potato a few times with the tip of a sharp paring knife. Arrange the potatoes in the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife.
serve the potatoes split open.
serves 6–8
Apple Praline Sweet Potato Gratin
This simple gratin-with-a-twist combines sweet potatoes, tart apples, and pecans in an apple cider and brown sugar glaze. It’s more of a pie than a side dish. Equally at home on the weeknight table as it is on a holiday buffet, it’s delicious paired with ham, roasted pork, chicken, or turkey.
4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch-thick slices
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ½-inch-thick slices
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
¼ cup dark corn syrup
½ cup apple cider or apple juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup pecans, toasted, for garnish
coat the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or line it with a slow-cooker liner according to the manufacturer’s directions.
layer the sweet potatoes and apples in the slow cooker. Combine all the remaining ingredients except the pecans in a small mixing bowl and pour over the potatoes and apples in the cooker. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife.
sprinkle the top of the casserole with the pecans. Serve from the cooker set on warm.
serves 6–8
Orange-Thyme Glazed Carrots
Carrots are a kid-friendly option for side dishes, and this dish uses so-called baby carrots, with orange, honey, and thyme to glaze them. These are a winner at holiday meals.
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
¼ cup honey
1 cup orange juice
Grated zest of 1 orange
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ cup chicken broth
Two 16-ounce bags baby carrots (see savvy)
coat the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or line it with a slow-cooker liner according to the manufacturer’s directions.
combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker and stir to coat the carrots.