vanilla-glazed sweet potatoes

I love sweet potatoes.  They are high in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and calcium...and, of course, they taste amazing.  What's not to love? 

One of my favorite sweet potato recipes comes from Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Book 3.  These aren't exactly low calorie, but they taste absolutely amazing!  They can be made with either sweet potatoes or their oft-confused cousin, the yam.

I chose sweet potatoes.

Vanilla-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
from Gooseberry Patch Christmas 3

• 3 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3 T. orange juice
• 1 T. vanilla extract
• 1 t. salt
• 1 t. orange zest
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Boil sweet potatoes in water until tender; drain.  Cool slightly, then cut into 1/4 inch slices.  Arrange the slices in a greased, broiler-proof 13"x9" baking dish, overlapping slightly.  In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat.  Add brown sugar, orange juice, vanilla, salt, orange zest and pepper, stirring until combined.  Heat, but do not allow to boil.  Remove from heat and brush sauce evenly over potato slices.  Broil 6 inches from heat until golden, about 6 or 7 minutes.  Sprinkle with pecans.  Serves 6.