Spicy Slow Cooked Honey Ham and Sweet Potatoes

Spicy Slow Cooked Honey Ham and Sweet Potatoes

3 1/2 lb cooked boneless ham portion

4 med sweet potatoes, peeled and halved lengthwise

1 large onion, cut into thin wedges

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup pineapple juice

2 Tbsp butter, melted

1 tsp crushed red pepper

Place ham in 5-6 qt slow cooker.  Arrange potatoes and onions around it.  Combine remaining ingredients and pour over ham and veggies.  Cover and cook for 7-8 hours.  

I didn't like the way the outside of the ham tasted with the sweet potatoes cooked this way.   The inside of the ham (the part that didn't have the sweet potato flavor) was good and juicy though.  I would be willing to try this again WITHOUT the potatoes!  There was way too much liquid in the crockpot...not sure if it came from the ham or the sweet potatoes.  I don't remember where I found this recipe, but I've had it in my "to try" file for several years.

Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes

6 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Pinch of Salt

1 Tbsp vanilla

Melt the butter in large, heavy iron skillet and stir in the potato slices.  Sprinkle the sugar, cinnamon and salt over the potatoes and stir well.  Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender and "candied", stirring occasionally.  Stir in the vanilla just before serving.

Delicious!  Adapted from allrecipes.com

Not My Usual Sweet Potato Pie

Not My Usual Sweet Potato Pie

2 lbs sweet potatoes, baked until tender and peeled (about 6-2.5"x5" potatoes)
3/4 cup softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup half & half
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 pie shells, thawed

Preheat the oven to 424^F. Combine the potatoes, butter, sugars, spices and salt in a large mixing bowl and beat until well combined. Add half and half, eggs and vanilla and beat well. Pour into pie shells and bake at 425^ for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350^ and bake about 45 minutes or until pie is set in the middle.

This Sweet Potato Pie is BETTER than mine! John very tactfully said "it's as good as yours" but I know...it's definitely better. This is the best Sweet Potato Pie I've ever eaten!!!

Adapted from allrecipe.com's "Sweet Potato Pie I".

Butter Crumb Pork Chops, Maple Glazed Sweet Pototoes, Creamy Succotash with Bacon, Thyme & Chives

Butter Crumb Pork Chops

1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
1 tsp minced garlic
Pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp water
4 pork chops
1/4 cup butter

Preheat oven to 375^ F. In a shallow bowl, combine the garlic, pepper, eggs and water; mix well. Put the cracker crumbs in a separate shallow bowl. Dip the pork chops in the egg mixture and then in the cracker crumbs until well coated. Place the chops in a 9x13" pan. Place chunks of butter around the chops. Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake 15-20 minutes more or until the chops are completely cooked and tender. (Adapted from allrecipe.com's "Famous Pork Chops")

I did not like these...the crumb/breading was mushy, even though I even ran the pork chops under the broiler for the last few minutes of cooking trying to crisp them up.


Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 3/4-inch thick
4 tbsp butter, melted
Pinch salt
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Place the potatoes and butter in a 9x13" pan in an even layer. Cover with foil and bake 30-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Combine salt, syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon. Remove foil from pan, and drizzle syrup mixture over potatoes. Return to oven, uncovered for 15-20 minutes longer. (Adapted from allrecipe.com's "Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes")

I didn't like these either....they were like Wanna-Be Candied Sweet Potatoes only with a vastly inferior, very runny "sauce".


Creamy Succotash with Bacon, Thyme & Chives

4 slices thick cut bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
14-oz pkg frozen Fordhook lima beans
1/2 cup water
Salt & pepper to taste
10-oz pkg frozen whole kernel corn
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp fresh snipped chives

Fry the bacon over medium-high heat in a large skillet until crisp. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Pour off all but 2 tbsp bacon drippings. Add onions and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add lima beans, water, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered until cooked. Stir in corn and thyme and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in half & half and heat through. Serve topped with bacon and chives. (Adapted from allrecipe.com's recipe by the same name)

And I didn't like this either, but John did. I prefer plain, old regular Succotash...hold the cream!

The Neely's Memphis Sweet Potato Fries

The Neely's Memphis Sweet Potato Fries

4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch wide strips
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a large bowl, mix together olive oil, paprika and cinnamon. Toss the potato strips into mixture, to coat well, and spread onto baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and brown sugar.

Bake for 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes.

I omitted the paprika entirely and only turned them once after 15 minutes. They were not crisp at all, but they WERE delicious! John told me next time to double the recipe and swore there would not be any leftovers if I did!

I served these with a Grilled Ham Steak and Cole Slaw. From FoodTV.

Cinnamon Baked Sweet Potatoes 5.19.09

For dinner tonight we had Smoked Pork Chops, Cinnamon Baked Sweet Potatoes and Cole Slaw with Pineapple and Almonds. Here's the potatoes:

Cinnamon Baked Sweet Potatoes

Scrub you sweet potatoes. Rub the skins with soft butter until well coated and sprinkle generously with cinnamon. Wrap in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet in a 400 degree oven until done (about 1 hour for large potatoes). Split open and serve hot with butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar if desired.

Love these! And they smell so good baking!