Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Apples

OPEN slow cooker liner and place it inside a 5- to 6 1/2 -quart slow cooker bowl. Fit liner snugly against the bottom and sides of bowl; pull top of liner over rim of bowl.

PLACE sweet potatoes in slow cooker. Place apples in medium bowl. Pour orange juice over apples; stir to coat apples. Stir remaining ingredients, except Glazed Pecans, into orange juice. Pour apple mixture over sweet potatoes. Place lid on slow cooker.

COOK on LOW for 6 to 7 hours OR on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours until sweet potatoes are tender.

CAREFULLY remove lid to allow steam to escape. Remove sweet potatoes from slow cooker using a slotted plastic or wooden spoon. Leave lid off slow cooker continue cooking for 15 minutes to thicken sauce. Spoon thickened sauce over sweet potatoes. Sprinkle with Glazed Pecans, if desired.

GLAZED PECANS: Place 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans and 2 tablespoons sugar in medium sauce pan. Stir constantly over medium heat until sugar melts and coats pecans. Spread pecans on sheet of foil; cool completely.