Gratin ala Brussels Sprouts

Description
From my Aunt Maggie's Estate. She is the one that got me used to eating different vegetables as a young child. She had a magnificent garden and was a fabulous cook. This recipe indicates it came from a 1927 Farmer's Almanac. I also make this dish when my pastor comes to dinner, he is a huge sprouts fan.
 * Contributed by Cat's Recipes Y-Group

Ingredients

 * 2 pounds Brussels sprouts
 * ½ pound bacon
 * 1 tablespoon butter
 * 1 cup heavy cream
 * 2 tablespoons fresh bread crumbs
 * 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

Directions

 * 1) Preheat oven to 375°F.
 * 2) Prepare the sprouts by cutting a thin slice off the root end of each and then cutting a slit on that end to establish even cooking.
 * 3) In a large pot of boiling salted water blanch sprouts for 5 minutes.
 * 4) Drain, drop in ice cold water and drain again.
 * 5) Sauté bacon until limp, not crisp.
 * 6) Drain and coarsely chop.
 * 7) Mix the sprouts and bacon together and spread the mixture in a buttered gratin dish.
 * 8) Pour cream over the sprouts and bacon mixture.
 * 9) Dot with bread crumbs and butter.
 * 10) Bake for 20 minutes or until hot.