Pork Chops, Sweet Potato, and Orange Casserole

8 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
4 thick-cut pork loin chips, trimmed of excess fat
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 medium-size onions, sliced
2 oranges, peeled, seeded, and sliced
2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup beer

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 2-quart casserole.

2. Arrange the sweet potatoes in an overlapping layer across the bottom and dot evenly with the butter. Arrange the pork chops over the sweet potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Layer the onions evenly over the chops, layer oranges over the onions, and sprinkle the brown sugar over the top. Pour the beer around the edges, cover, and bake 1 hour.

3. Uncover and continue to bake till the chops are very tender and the top glazed, about 20 minutes.