Recipe: Spiced Maple Glazed Pork With Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Pears

This is a perfect fall recipe! The autumnal flavors of sweet potatoes, pears, and maple combine with spices to make sweet and spicy magic in this hearty roast - perfect for a cool fall evening, or dinner party with guests.

Spiced Maple Glazed Pork Roast With Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Pears
(Serves 8-10.)

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 pork shoulder roast (about 6 to 7 lbs)
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup water
2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 large firm pears, peeled, cored, and quartered

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix together the salt, pepper, and cinnamon, then gently rub this mixture over the pork roast; then put in a large roasting pan, fat side up, and roast for about 2 hours or until the fat is golden brown.
• To make glaze:  Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, then add the maple syrup, brown sugar, cloves, nutmeg, and water, stir and bring to a boil, then immediately remove from the burner.
• Put the sweet potatoes and pears in a large bowl, pour half the maple syrup mixture over them and toss until coated well.
• When pork roast is done, remove the roast from the oven and arrange the sweet potatoes and pears around the pork roast. 
• Carefully drizzle the remaining maple syrup mixture on the pork, coating the top and sides of the pork roast - use a brush if that works better.
• Return the roast to the oven and cook an additional 1 hour.
• After the 1 hour, increase the oven temperature to 425 and continue to cook until the pork reaches 165 degrees with a meat thermometer and the vegetables are fork tender, about 30 to 40 minutes, a bit more or less.
• Remove the roasting pan from the oven and transfer the pork to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil and let rest 8 to 10 minutes before slicing to serve. Spoon sweet potatoes and pears on each plate with pork, and spoon sauce from roasting pan over all.