CHEESY SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH BACON IN THE SMOKER

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Bacon in the Smoker image

I love scalloped potatoes... What's not to love about potatoes and cheese? And with the addition of bacon to the mix, and some nice slow smoking going on... Well, all I can say is, Brilliant. The recipe is not difficult to put together, and you might already have the ingredients you need to make this tasty dish. As a matter...

Provided by Andy Anderson !

Time 2h20m

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

4 slice thick pepper bacon, chopped into small pieces
1 1/2 oz yellow onion, finely chopped
2 clove garlic, minced
4 Tbsp flour, all-purpose variety
4 Tbsp sweet butter, unsalted
2 c milk, whole fat
1 lb potatoes, yukon gold
4 oz cheddar, extra sharp and freshly grated
4 oz gruyere, freshly grated
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
kosher salt, to taste

Steps:

1. Preheat the smoker to 250f (121c).
2. Gather your ingredients.
3. Finely chop the onion, and mince the garlic.
4. Place a skillet over medium heat, and add the bacon.
5. Cook the bacon until lightly browned.
6. Remove bacon from pan, drain on paper towels, and reserve.
7. Chef's Note: Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
8. Slice the potatoes about 1/8 inch thick.
9. Add the butter to a saucepan, over medium heat.
10. When the foaming subsides, add the onion and garlic.
11. Stir until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes.
12. Add the flour, and continue to cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
13. Chef's Tip: This additional cooking will help to cook the "flour" taste out of the roux.
14. When your spoon can trace a path in the pan, the roux is ready.
15. Add the milk, and continue to stir over medium low heat.
16. As the mixture begins to thicken, add a bit of salt and pepper, to taste.
17. Chef's Tip: Remember good cooks season as they work.
18. When the sauce has thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat and reserve.
19. Chef's Note: Congratulations, you've just made a basic white sauce.
20. Mix the two cheeses together
21. Use a bit of bacon grease to coat the cast iron skillets, or similar containers.
22. Chefs Note: My cast-iron skillet's are 6 inches across. You don't have to use cast-iron, of course. And, you could even do a larger container and make one instead of two. It's totally up to you.
23. Add a generous layer of sliced potatoes.
24. Cover with about two tablespoons of the white sauce.
25. Add on some salt and pepper.
26. Add on some bacon.
27. Add on some cheese.
28. Repeat the layering process: Potatoes White sauce Salt/Pepper Bacon Cheese By the time you reach the top of the skillet, you should have about four layers.
29. Place in the smoker.
30. Add your favorite wood chips (mine were apple wood). And let the smoke do it's magic.
31. Cook until the top is brown and bubbly, about 1.5 - 2 hours.
32. Go rustic and serve to your guests directly out of the skillet... along with your favorite protein. Enjoy.
33. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.