Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples

This was a new recipe for me...yes, another Ina Garten recipe :)  I had these with a pork roast and they tasted great, they would also be great on a Thanksgiving menu.  Loved the apples on top!  However, it is not the most beautiful dish I have ever made! 

Can't wait to see what everyone else has been cooking this week!  Thanks to Michael at Designs by Gollum for hosting  Foodie Friday ! 

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples

• 4 pounds sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Topping

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 McIntosh apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 375.

Scrub the potatoes, prick them several times with a knife or fork, and bake them for 1 hour, or until very soft when pierced with a knife.  Remove from the oven and scoop out the insides as soon as they are cool enough to handle.  Place the sweet potato meat into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and add the orange juice, cream, butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.  Mix together until combined but not smooth, and pour into a baking dish.

For the topping, melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the apple wedges and brown sugar and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned on both sides.  Place on top of the sweet potatoes.

Bake the potatoes and apples for 20 to 30 minutes, until heated through.