Do you need a great sweet potato casserole recipe? Sweet potato casserole is a staple on many holiday tables. It's easy to make, and most of the prep work can be done ahead. Read on to learn how to make sweet potato casserole.

• Most "yams" that you find in the supermarket are actually just softer sweet potatoes with golden-orange flesh, so feel free to use them in this recipe. True yams are drier and starchier, and most of them are grown in Africa. They are extremely rare in the United States, and usually only seen in international groceries.http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/sweetpotato.html

While many people use canned sweet potatoes to make their sweet potato casserole, its easy to use fresh sweet potatoes if you boil them first. A fresh sweet potato should be washed, and then boiled for 20-30 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork. Place the boiled sweet potato under cold water, and remove the peel.

• 6-8 fresh sweet potatoes, boiled and sliced thinly to make 7 cups
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 2-4 cups mini marshmallows (optional)

• You'll also need a 3 quart baking dish, buttered.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Spread half of the sweet potatoes in the baking dish.
3. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar and 4 tablespoons of butter.
4. Spread the remaining potatoes on top, topping with the remaining butter and sugar.
5. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
6. Uncover, and top with marshmallows, if desired.
7. Bake for 15 minutes or until marshmallows are melted and browned.

1. Substitute maple syrup for the brown sugar.
2. Sprinkle chopped nuts on top.
3. Replace half of the sweet potatoes with canned peaches.
4. Use canned sweet potatoes or yams in place of fresh sweet potatoes.
5. Replace half the sweet potatoes with sliced apples.