Moms Sauerkraut Food

MOM'S ORIGINAL YEAST DOUGH FOR KRAUT BURGERS

Steps:

• Add yeast and 2 teaspoons of the sugar to warm water *see note
• Stirring add milk and oil to water mixture
• Mix about 2 cups of flour with the remainder of sugar and salt
• Add dry mixture to liquid mixture
• Mix with mixer until dough is elastic
• Put in enough flour to make bread dough form into a nice ball
• Pour out onto a lightly floured surface and knead (if you use a kitchen aid mixer instead let it mix on low speed 6-8 minutes and skip this step)
• Let dough rise while you make the meat and cabbage mixture

HOW TO MAKE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Thoroughly wash a large tub or bowl (we used on the size of a small washing-up bowl), then rinse with boiling water from the kettle. Make sure that your hands, and everything else coming into contact with the cabbage, are very clean. It's wise to use a container that will comfortably fit the softened cabbage, allowing several inches of room at the top to avoid overflow.
• Shred the cabbage thinly - a food processor makes light work of this. Layer the cabbage and the salt in the tub or bowl. Massage the salt into the cabbage for 5 mins, wait 5 mins, then repeat. You should end up with a much-reduced volume of cabbage sitting in its own brine. Mix in the caraway seeds and the peppercorns.
• Cover the surface of the cabbage entirely with a sheet of cling film, then press out all the air bubbles from below. Weigh the cabbage down using a couple of heavy plates, or other weights that fit your bowl, and cover as much of the cabbage as possible. The level of the brine will rise to cover the cabbage a little. Cover the tub and leave in a dark place at a cool room temperature (about 18-20C) for at least five days. It will be ready to eat after five days, but for maximum flavour leave the cabbage to ferment for anywhere between 2-6 weeks (or until the bubbling subsides).
• Check the cabbage every day or so, releasing any gases that have built up as it ferments, giving it a stir to release the bubbles. If any scum forms, remove it, rinse the weights in boiling water and replace the cling film. You should see bubbles appearing within the cabbage, and possibly some foam on the top of the brine. It's important to keep it at an even, cool room temperature - too cool and the ferment will take longer than you'd like, too warm and the sauerkraut may become mouldy or ferment too quickly, leading to a less than perfect result.
• The cabbage will become increasingly sour the longer it's fermented, so taste it now and again. When you like the flavour, transfer it to smaller sterilised jars. Will keep in the fridge for up to six months.

MOM'S SPARE RIBS AND SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Empty sauerkraut and stewed tomatoes into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish (use a larger dish if you have a lot of ribs).
• Place onion rings in juice. Arrange ribs on top of everything. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover with foil and cook in a 350 degrees F oven for one hour or until ribs are COMPLETELY done. This may take up to two hours. The leftover juice in the pan is GREAT on baked potatoes with a little sour cream.

SAUSAGE AND SAUERKRAUT POT

Steps:

• Heat margarine in large pot over medium heat; add onions and saute until they are tender.
• Add sauerkraut, apple juice, water, caraway seed, salt, pepper, and brown sugar, mixing all ingredients thoroughly.
• Bring pot mixture to a boil; then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add smoked sausage pieces to pot, and cook for 30-45 minutes more, simmering, and stirring occasionally, until sauerkraut is tender.

SPARE RIBS WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Place ribs in a large pot, cover them with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain the water and cool the ribs until you can touch them. Cut them into 1 or 2 rib portions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and set them aside.
• In a large Dutch oven sauté the onion in shortening until glassy. Add the ribs, reduce the heat and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Drain sauerkraut and add it to the ribs. Pour water and wine over the ribs. Add the apple, bay leaf and cloves, turn up the heat and bring to a boil. Turn down heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
• Peel, wash and grate the potato and place into the sauerkraut mixture. Add a little water if needed. Stir and simmer another 1/2 hour. Season with salt and pepper and a dash of sugar.

CABBAGE SOUP RECIPE

Steps:

• Clean and dice the potatoes into small pieces. Shred the cabbage and carrots.
• Rinse the meat under cold water. In a large soup pot, bring 4 quarts of water to boil. Add in the meat and the Better Than Bouillon Beef Base and cook for 30 minutes.
• Add in the potatoes and cabbage and simmer the soup for 10 minutes.
• Dice the onions and shred the carrots. In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the onions with a little bit of oil until golden brown. Add in the shredded carrots and cook for another 5 minutes. Add in the diced tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the meat pieces from the soup and remove the bone. Add the meat back into the soup and toss the bones in the trash.
• Season to taste with salt. Serve immediately and enjoy!

MOM'S SAUERKRAUT BALLS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onion in butter until tender.
• Add ham and corned beef; cook, stirring often, for five minutes.
• Add garlic salt, prepared mustard, black pepper, sauerkraut, 1/2 cup flour, and beef stock to skillet.
• Mix well.
• Cook for 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Spread sauerkraut mixture on a platter and allow to cool.
• When mixture is cool enough to touch, shape into 1- inch size balls.
• Refrigerate sauerkraut balls for 1 hour.
• Roll balls in remaining flour, dip into beaten eggs, then roll in bread crumbs.
• Fry in hot oil in a deep fryer until golden brown.

MOM'S SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Melt butter in a Dutch oven or a heavy saucepan.
• Add onion and cook until golden yellow.
• Stir in sauerkraut and 1/2 cup water, cook for about 8 minutes.
• Add potato and caraway seed, mix well.
• Pour in about 2 cups of boiling water.
• Cook uncovered over low heat for 30 minutes.
• Cover, and continue cooking for 30 minutes longer.
• If it starts to dry out, add the additional 1/2 cup of boiling water.

MOM'S SAUERKRAUT BORSCHT

Steps:

• Boil chicken in water with bay leaf, chili peppers, peppercorns and salt, until done. Remove chicken, separate meat from the bones, and add it back into the broth. Add remaining ingredients, and cook until the potatoes and onion are tender.

POTATO AND SAUERKRAUT SOUP WITH KIELBASA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large wide pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the kielbasa and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate, leaving the drippings in the pot.
• Add the onion, diced celery and potatoes to the pot and cook, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon, until the onion and celery are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the caraway seeds and sauerkraut and cook, scraping up any remaining browned bits, 1 to 2 more minutes. Add 6 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce the heat to a rapid simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir together the heavy cream and mustard in a small bowl. Once the potatoes are tender, reduce the heat to medium low and whisk the heavy cream mixture into the soup. Return the kielbasa to the pot. Increase the heat to medium and simmer until thickened slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the soup among bowls. Top with the chopped celery leaves and dill.