Baked Sweet Potatoes with Tropical Orange-Raisin Sauce

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 8 small sweet potatoes
• 1 1/2 cups orange juice
• 1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks in their own juice
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Sweetened shredded coconut (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Wash and scrub sweet potatoes; pierce them with a small knife or fork. Place them on a baking sheet and bake until they are tender when pierced, about 45 minutes (or, to microwave, place sweet potatoes in batches in a microwave-safe dish; microwave on HIGH for about 6 minutes per pound or until tender when pierced).
3. When sweet potatoes are nearly done, combine orange juice and pineapple juice from can in a saucepan; cut each pineapple chunk in half then add to juices along with raisins and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, whisking often.
4. Mix cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water until smooth.
5. Whisking constantly, slowly add cornstarch mixture to sauce. Stir until sauce bubbles and thickens, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
6. To serve, cut each sweet potato open, fluff insides with a fork, and top with a generous spoonful of sauce.
7. Offer coconut to add to taste.

Nutrition

Nutrition: calories 232; protein 3g; carbohydrate 56g; fat 1g (2% cal from fat); cholesterol 0mg; sodium 21mg; vitamin A 26,788 IU; fiber 5g