Jennifer's Week Eleven Recipe - Brussels Sprouts Gratin

Ok, I like brussels sprouts when they are cooked correctly. They can go horribly wrong if not prepared right. I find pickled brussels sprouts delicious; I will eat them right of the jar. I think it comes from the fact that I ate them for the first time voluntarily; they were never forced on me when I was growing up. (My mother's casserole is another story...) I'm also trying to get my family to eat a wider variety of foods, so this was an experiment. I found the recipe from allrecipes.com - here.

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

1 pound Brussels sprouts, cleaned and trimmed

2 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (doubled this. It's bacon!)

salt and ground black pepper to taste

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons butter, cut into tiny pieces (I skipped this. With heavy cream and bacon involved, I figured this could be skipped)

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook uncovered until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain in a colander, then immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the Brussels sprouts are cold, drain well, and cut in halves or quarters, depending on size. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until limp and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat and stir in the Brussels sprouts. Season with salt and pepper then toss for about 1 minutes to evenly distribute the seasonings. Arrange bacon and Brussels sprouts on the prepared baking dish. Pour cream evenly over the Brussels sprouts, then sprinkle breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese on top. Distribute pieces of butter over the bread crumbs.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and heated through, 20 to 25 minutes.

Well, I liked it. My guys could never have it again and be perfectly happy. So, I guess I need to find some other people who will enjoy this dish.