YAMS WITH MAPLE SYRUP & PECANS

4 lbs. yams (red skinned sweet potatoes) peeled, cut into l/4″ thick pieces
l/2 cup pure maple syrup
l stick chilled butter cut into l/2″ pices
l/3 cup flour
l/3 cup golden brown sugar
l/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Heat oven 400. Butter l3x9″ dish. Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add yams. Cook until water returns to simmer, about 4 mins. Drain. Rinse under cold water. Arrange yams in prepared dish, over lapping slightly. Season with salt. Pour syrup over yams. Dot with 3 tbsps. butter. Cvoer and bake until yams are almost tender, about 25 mins. Mix flour and brown sugar in med. bowl. Add remaining 5 tbsps. butter. Rub in with fingers until mixture resmebles corse meal. Mix in pecans. Sprinkle pecan mix atop yams. Bake yams until tender about 20 mins. (Can be made 2 hrs. ahead. Cool. Cover and let stand at room temp. Rewarm uncovered in 3785 oven 20 mins.)
Bon Appetit Dec. l998 Serves 12