Apple Cinnamon Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Serves 4

4 medium sweet potatoes

2 Michigan apples (McIntosh, Jonathan or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored and diced

¼ cup chopped pecans

3 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ cup Honey Cinnamon Sugar Butter (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 400º F.

PREPARE SWEET POTATOES

Pierce potatoes several times with a fork. Place potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, or until fork-tender.

MAKE APPLE CINNAMON MIXTURE

While potatoes are baking, fold together apples, pecans, sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add apple mixture to a greased baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, or until apples are fork-tender. Set aside until ready to assemble.

ASSEMBLE

Make a slice in the top of each potato, lengthwise. Open the top and score the inside of each potato using a crosshatch pattern. Equally divide apple mixture into each potato. Top each potato with a dollop of Honey Cinnamon Sugar Butter. Serve warm.

HONEY CINNAMON SUGAR BUTTER

½ cup butter, softened

1½ tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 teaspoons sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon salt

Cream together all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate any unused butter.