Old-Fashioned Pork Chop, Apple, and Sweet Potato Pot

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Salt and black pepper to taste
6 loin pork chops, about 1 inch thick, trimmed of excess fast
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 medium-size sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8 inch-thick slices
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 medium-size cooking apples (such as Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick rings
1/2 cup apple cider

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2- to 2 1/2-quart casserole and set aside.

2. On a plate, combine the flour and salt and pepper and dredge the pork chops in the mixture, tapping off any excess. In a large heavy skillet, heat the oil over moderate heat, brown the chops on both sides, and arrange them in the prepared casserole.

3. Layer half the sweet potatoes over the chops, sprinkle a little brown sugar over the top, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Layer half the apples over the potatoes, sprinkle a little more brown sugar on top, then repeat layering the remaining potatoes, apples and sugar. Pour the cider over the top, cover, and bake till the chops are tender, about 1 1/4 hours. Uncover and continue to bake till slightly browned, abut 15 minutes.

Sprinkle the layers a little powdered sage for more flavor.