Instructions

To roast the yams

Preheat oven to 450°F. Clean the yams well and pierce them with a fork. Place the yams on a non-stick baking sheet (or non-stick foil) and bake in the pre-heated oven until the yams are fork tender, approximately 60 minutes. Allow to cool, then peel.

To make the tart crust

In the bowl of a food processor, add the shortening, flour and salt. Gradually sprinkle on the cold water until flour is moistened and the dough cleans the side of the bowl. Gather into a ball, flatten and chill for 15 minutes. Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and then roll out to fit into individual tart pans that are approximately 5 inch in diameter. Sprinkle the inside of each with some ground pecans. Place the pans on a baking sheet.

To make the filling

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Mix together all the filling ingredients until well blended. Pour the filling into the prepared crusts and bake at 425°F. for 15 minutes. Lower the oven to 350°F. and bake for an additional 40-45 minutes.