Candied Yams with Apples and Cranberries (Slow Cooker)

I know I usually lead with a photo of the dish all ready to eat.  However, we had company for dinner tonight and I didn't want them to think I was a weirdo for taking pictures of our food before we ate it.  I am sure Tyler thinks it's weird enough and we are trying to make friends here, not send people running for the hills.  Maybe I should just get a sign for my door that says, 'WE ARE NOT WEIRDOS.'  A little too defensive? Do you think?  Anyway, so I opted to try not to be a weirdo; at least while we had company.  

I am the kind of person that can take or leave sweet potatoes. If you open the can and throw a bunch of sugar into them and add the marshmallows to the top, I will possibly eat them if I have room on my plate (which I usually don't).  I saw this recipe in one of my cookbooks this week and decided I wanted to try it.  It's a great Fall side dish, you should have smelled my house while it was cooking.  I might make this everyday just for the smell.  I also think it would make a great Thanksgiving side dish since you just throw everything in the slow cooker and let it do it's thing.  You don't have to worry about browning the marshmallows while you are still trying to cook your rolls and make your gravy and whip your potatoes.  You get the point.  And have I mentioned the smell?  

I ended up really liking it.  We served it with chicken cordon bleu and it went great with the ham and the chicken.  I didn't eat as many of the cranberries because they packed quite a punch.  I was thinking next time I might only use half a bag, but I might not change anything. I probably still won't eat all the cranberries on my plate, but I liked the taste of everything else so much, I wouldn't want to mess that up.  Our friends seemed to like it too.  While Clare had the same issues with the cranberries I did, her husband just ate hers for her.  If you are looking for a change of pace from the regular cranberries or yams, give this a try.

Candied Yams with Apples and Cranberries
Recipe from: Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Entertaining
2 lbs yams peeled and sliced ½ inch thick
2 med size Fuji apples, peeled, cored and sliced ½ inch thick
1  12 oz bag cranberries, rinsed and picked over
¾ cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
dash nutmeg
½ cup apple or pear juice
3 T butter cut into bits.

Spray inside of  medium or large, round or oval slow cooker.  Layer Yams and apples, 

sprinkle with cranberries.  

In bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, sprinkle over cranberries, drizzle with apple or pear juice and dot with butter.  Turn cooker on to low for 6-7 hours or until yams are tender when pierced with a fork.  Serve hot from the crock.

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