Baked Apple, Yam, and Apricot Casserole

Last week one of our local farms in Bucks County, Pa. was selling  beautiful looking yams or maybe they were sweet potatoes ? 

At fifty cents a pound, I couldn't resist buying more than I needed.

The yams were sweet and delicious, and we enjoyed a few of them simply oven baked in their skin. However, the other ten were just staring at me, begging to be a part of something more creative.

Delicious Easy Casserole

I created a colorful and nutritious Baked Apple, Yam, and Apricot Casserole with walnuts and cranberries basted in freshly squeezed orange juice. 

This colorful and flavorful casserole can be served as delicious side dish for any meal, and is a good fit for the Thanksgiving or Rosh Hashanah holidays.

The Aroma Baking Smells Amazing 

The aroma of this apple and yam casserole baking is reason enough to make it.

Enjoy The Fall 

***One more thing- Leftovers taste even better cold the next day

Ingredients:
3 large yams, peeled and sliced
2 large apples (I used Honey Crisps), peeled and sliced
2 large juice oranges or 1 equivalent of 1 cup orange juice

1/4 cup-1/2 cup maple syrup (your preference) mixed with 

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of cinnamon 

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
Optional: 8-10 fresh cranberries (these are VERY tart; use dried cranberries if you don't want the tartness)

Directions:
Peel and slice yams in round slices and set aside
Peel, core, and slice apples in ring type slices
Layer the yam slices with the apple slices to make 2 layers.

Douse each layer with  1/2 of the maple syrup mixed with vanilla extract and then 1/2 the cinnamon, walnuts and dried apricots and repeat.Add cranberries if desired.

 Squeeze the juice of two large juicy oranges over the casserole and more cinnamon to taste. Bake tightly covered at 375-400 degrees until apples and yams are tender (about 1/2 hour). 

Baked Casserole 

Notes:

1. Leftovers taste even better cold the next day!

2. This recipe could also be made for Passover and is parve.