Creamy Scalloped Potatoes With Bacon  | 
                               | 
                         
                        
                     
                    
                        
                        
                              | 
                            
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes  | 
                                            Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 6  | 
                                         
                                        
                                     
                              | 
                         
                        
                     
                    Ingredients: 
                    
                        
                                                3 hickory-smoked bacon slices  |  
                                                1 1/2 cups thinly sliced onion, separated into rings  |  
                                                2 teaspoons chopped fresh or  |  
                                                1/2 teaspoon dried thyme  |  
                                                1 teaspoon sugar  |  
                                                1 teaspoon salt  |  
                                                1/2 teaspoon pepper  |  
                                                1/3 cup all-purpose flour  |  
                                                2 1/2 cups fat-free milk  |  
                                                1/2 cup 50%-less-fat sour cream (such as daisy)  |  
                                                1/4 cup finely chopped fresh or 1 1/2 tablespoons freeze-dried chives  |  
                                                cooking spray  |  
                                                4 1/2 cups peeled, thinly sliced baking potatoes (about 2 pounds)  |  
                                                thyme sprigs (optional)  |  
                                                
                     
                    Directions: 
                    
                        
                            
                                1. Preheat oven to 350°. 2. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet, reserving 1 teaspoon bacon fat in skillet; crumble bacon, and set aside. Add onion to bacon fat in skillet; cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes. Add thyme and next 3 ingredients; cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in milk; bring to a simmer. Cook 5 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream and chives. 3. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange one-third of potatoes over sauce, overlapping slices slightly. Spread 1/2 cup sauce over potatoes. Repeat layers twice with remaining potatoes and sauce, ending with sauce. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.                              | 
                         
                         
                 |