Maple-Glazed Yam Stars

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place each yam on its side and slice crosswise into 1/2-inch rounds.

Using a 3-inch star-shaped cookie cutter , cut out a star shape from each round. Discard the scraps.

Place the stars in the baking dish. Pour the orange juice and syrup over the top, and cover tightly with aluminum foil.

Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, until yams are soft to the touch of a fork, then remove the foil and bake for approximately 30 more minutes, or until yams start to become candied. Keep a watchful eye on stars and remove early if the pan juices reduce to the point of burning. To avoid any breakage, serve directly from the baking dish with a spatula .