Sunnys Simple Red Cabbage Kraut Food

SUNNY'S QUICK CABBAGE SAUTEED SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery seeds and let cook for 1 to 2 minutes to bloom. Add the carrots and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cabbage, then season with salt and pepper and continue to cook until the cabbage is wilted but still has a little bite to it, about 5 minutes.
• Place the onion in a medium bowl. Add the honey, sambal and vinegar. Mix together to coat and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the onion mixture to the skillet and mix in. Transfer to a serving bowl.

SUNNY'S EASY SLOW COOKER SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• For the marinade: Season the beef on all sides with salt. Place in a large plastic bag (turkey bag!) and add the onions, red wine vinegar, pickling spice blend, honey, peppercorns and 1 cup water. Marinate, refrigerated, for 2 days.
• For the sauerbraten: Remove the beef from the marinade and reserve the marinade. Pat the beef dry. Sprinkle the flour on all sides of the beef. In a large pan on high heat, add the oil. When it begins to swirl and smoke, add the beef. Sear on all sides to a deep golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes; don't forget the ends!
• Add the beef to a slow cooker and pour in the reserved marinade and red wine. Cook on low for 8 hours, until the meat is tender but not falling apart.
• Remove the beef, tent loosely with foil and rest for 10 minutes. Turn the slow cooker to high and reduce the liquid slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Slice the beef and serve with the sauce, boiled potatoes and Sunny's Simple Red Cabbage Kraut.
• To a large pan with straight sides or a stockpot, add the beer, sugar, vinegar, red pepper flakes, liquid smoke, garlic and peppercorns. Turn the heat to medium high and stir to dissolve the sugar. Stir in the onions and cabbage and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

RED CABBAGE AND APPLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Remove any loose leaves from the cabbage head and reserve. Quarter the cabbage and thinly slice, on a mandoline if you have one. (The shreds should be about the thickness of a quarter.) Toss the cabbage in a large bowl with the pickling salt. Work the cabbage through your hands and massage for a minute or two, until the cabbage begins to "sweat" and release some water.
• Thinly slice, then julienne the green apple, leaving the peel on. (Again, use a mandoline if you have one.) Slice the ginger into coins and press with the side of your knife to bruise them slightly and release their oils. Add the apples, ginger and allspice berries to the cabbage and toss well. Let sit for an hour or two, until the cabbage has released quite a bit of water.
• Pack the cabbage mixture into a large, wide-mouthed crock and press down very firmly until the liquid the cabbage has released covers it. (Depending on the age of your cabbage, it may release less water; a fresher cabbage will release a lot of water, while a cabbage that has been stored all winter will release less.) If the cabbage is not covered, mix together 1 quart cold water and 4 1/2 teaspoons pickling salt until dissolved and pour over enough to cover the cabbage.
• Use a couple of the reserved whole cabbage leaves to cover the surface of the cabbage. Cover with a plate (or the weight provided, if you have a fermenting crock) and set something heavy on top to weight it. (You can use cans. Many people like to use a resealable plastic bag filled with the same salted water solution used above because it weights evenly and if it leaks, it doesn't ruin the fermentation process.) Store the crock in a cool, dry place.
• Check the kraut after 2 days. There should be a few bubbles around the sides. Skim any scum that has risen to the surface. Check the kraut every few days and repeat skimming, if needed. Depending on the temperature of your room, the kraut should be ready after about a week. (Some people ferment for a couple of weeks or more, depending on how funky they want their kraut to be.)
• Divide the kraut and pack into jars. Store in the refrigerator. Drain and rinse the kraut well (discarding any ginger pieces) before using.

SUNNY'S EASY SLOW COOKER SAUERBRATEN

Steps:

• Season the beef on all sides with salt. Place in a large plastic bag (turkey bag!) and add the onions, red wine vinegar, pickling spice blend, honey, peppercorns and 1 cup water. Marinate, refrigerated, for 2 days.
• Remove the beef from the marinade and reserve the marinade. Pat the beef dry. Sprinkle the flour on all sides of the beef. In a large pan on high heat, add the oil. When it begins to swirl and smoke, add the beef. Sear on all sides to a deep golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes; don't forget the ends!
• Add the beef to a slow cooker and pour in the reserved marinade and red wine. Cook on low for 8 hours, until the meat is tender but not falling apart.
• Remove the beef, tent loosely with foil and rest for 10 minutes. Turn the slow cooker to high and reduce the liquid slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Slice the beef and serve with the sauce, boiled potatoes and Sunny's Simple Red Cabbage Kraut.
• To a large pan with straight sides or a stockpot, add the beer, sugar, vinegar, red pepper flakes, liquid smoke, garlic and peppercorns. Turn the heat to medium high and stir to dissolve the sugar. Stir in the onions and cabbage and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.