In a large skillet, fry bacon, onion, and black pepper until bacon is fairly crisp and onion is caramelized. Remove them from the skillet and place in a crockpot or baking dish. Reserve a couple of tablespoons of the bacon fat (just keep it in the skillet). Bring the heat up to medium to med-high. Add vinegar, sugar, and salt. Stir constantly for a minute. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large pot, add potatoes. Boil until soft (I start the potatoes while my bacon is frying). Drain and add potatoes to crockpot or baking dish. Pour vinegar mixture from skillet over potatoes. Stir in sauerkraut.

To make the knoephla, beat 2 eggs in a large bowl. Add milk, salt, and baking powder. Whisk together. Gradually add flour until you've made a stiff dough. Cut tennis ball pieces off of dough. Form ropes (see above picture) on floured surface until all the dough has been used. Cut with a scissors or pizza cutter to make small pieces. Add the pieces, knoephla, to a boiling pot of water, stirring so they do not stick together. Let simmer for about 5-8 minutes. Drain and place knoephla into the crockpot or baking dish.

Add cream, salt, and pepper to taste.

If using a baking dish, cover and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through. Or if you want to start it early and eat later, use a crockpot, set on warm.

*bacon can be swapped out for ring sausage, but you'll need to add a little butter or oil to start the vinegar mixture.