Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spread bacon out on a large baking pan (a half sheet is preferred, see link below in Recipe notes, or use two pans [with bacon pieces evenly divided between the two pans] if you don't have one big one). Bake bacon 10 minutes, until fat is partially rendered but it's not yet fully cooked.

Remove pan from oven. Move bacon over to one side of pan, the pieces very close together. Add delicata slices, *coating each slice on both sides with the rendered bacon fat* as you lay them down close to each other. The pan will be full, but it will all fit perfectly.

Bake in 400 degree oven about 13 minutes, until bacon is cooked perfectly and squash is cooked, but not all of it is browned.

Reduce oven heat to 375 degrees.

Grease large casserole dish. (It can be a 9x13" or something oval, but it needs to be about the dimensions of 9x13" so the meat comes up the right height in the dish and cooks according to these instructions. It can not be a deep, smaller dish.)

While bacon and delicata are cooking, combine in small bowl: cassava flour and sifted baking soda. Set aside.

In large bowl combine: pumpkin, water, vinegar, sea salt, sage; mix well.

Add pork to large bowl, and stir with long, big fork, or use hand-mixer on lowest speed. Fully mix pork into pumpkin-water mixture. It will be slightly fluffy and lovely. ;)

Add cassava mixture and mix well. Fold in apples.

Pour into prepared casserole dish, smoothing out the top with your finger tips or the back of a spoon/fork.

Place casserole into oven. Set timer for 25 minutes.

Remove casserole and decoratively arrange top with delicata slices. Return to oven.

Bake casserole 8-10 minutes. Watch it closely because delicata can get too dark very quickly. You want them browned, (but not burned).

Remove from oven. Crumble bacon pieces all over the top.

Run your fingers down the tough stems of the fresh thyme, perched over the top of the casserole, topping the casserole with fresh thyme. Try not to skip this ingredient. It is LOVELY and really finishes the casserole beautifully flavor-wise (as well as visually).

SERVE! :) Or the casserole can sit for up to 15 minutes before serving.