Swisscheesehamandcarawayspread Food

TRADITIONAL SAUERKRAUT WITH CARAWAY

Steps:

• Weigh the shredded cabbage (as cabbages vary in size and weight) to ensure the salt to cabbage ratio is correct. The amount of salt you use should come to about 1.5-2.5%, but no more than 3%, of the cabbage weight.
• In a large bowl, mix and massage the salt through the cabbage thoroughly, making sure to distribute the salt evenly.
• Let it sit to sweat a bit-maybe 10 minutes. This is simply to make the next step easier. This is a good time to get your vessel cleaned and to rest up for the next stage.
• With your pounder, pound quite energetically for about 5-10 minutes, until the cabbage is dripping with its own salty water when you pick up a handful. This part is important as you need this liquid-it's your brine.
• You can also use the dough hook of a stand mixer to do the pounding part, which can speed things up somewhat. Don't let it run for too long though, only a few minutes. Using a mixer is easy and great for people who are doing this a lot and in large batches, but it takes quite a bit of the emotional release and fun out of it.
• Next, mix in the caraway seeds (if using).
• Put the mixture into the jar, packing it down tightly as you go using the pounder. Push down well, particularly at the end to coax out any more brine. You need the brine to cover the cabbage.
• Don't pack the cabbage all the way to the top; leave some headroom at the top of the jar to allow for a bit of growth and movement and, of course, the weight. You don't want the liquid touching the top of the lid, as it will end up spewing out of your air-lock or up out of your lid.
• Cover with a cabbage leaf (the follower), the weight and then your chosen lid or system.
• Depending on your ferment, you can start trying it as soon as you'd like, but the less you fiddle with it in the first 2 weeks, the better. It is ready when you think it is delicious. With the right system and temperature, you can leave it to ferment for months before refrigeration.
• If you used a crock, you'll need to decant the kraut to smaller jars before you refrigerate, unless you have a walk-in cool room, or large cellar. (Lucky you.) It will keep in the fridge for 12 months or more. Use your senses.

KIELBASA WITH APPLE CARAWAY SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat, saute kielbasa until browned, about 4 minutes on each side. Remove kielbasa to a plate and keep warm. In the same pan, saute the onion and the apple for 1 minute. Drain and rinse the sauerkraut and add it to the apples and onion in the skillet. Add the chicken stock and caraway seeds to the pan and stir. Return the kielbasa to the skillet and cover. Put covered skillet in hot oven and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.

SWISS & CARAWAY FLATBREADS

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a 15x10-in. rectangle. Transfer to two greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., Preheat oven to 425°. Using fingertips, press several dimples into dough. In a small bowl, whisk melted butter, oil, onion, mustard, caraway seeds, Worcestershire sauce and, if desired, sherry until blended; brush over dough. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Serve warm. Freeze option: Cut cooled flatbreads into pieces. Freeze in freezer containers. To use, reheat flatbreads on an ungreased baking sheet in a preheated 425° oven until heated through.

WARM AND CREAMY SWISS CHEESE DIP WITH CARAWAY

Steps:

• In small bowl, toss cheese and flour.
• In small saucepan, heat buttermilk and cider.
• Add cheese and caraway seeds.
• Stir til melted.
• Keep warm while serving.
• Serve with chunks of rye bread for dipping.

ROASTED SAUSAGES, APPLES, AND CABBAGE WITH CARAWAY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Mix oil, thyme, and caraway seeds in small bowl. Arrange onion, cabbage, and apples on heavy large baking sheet. Drizzle oil mixture over. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Drizzle 3/4 teaspoon vinegar over cabbage and onion. Roast 10 minutes. Add sausages to baking sheet; cook until sausages brown and cabbage is crisp-tender, turning once, about 15 minutes longer. Cut sausages diagonally in half. Transfer sausages, onion, cabbage, and apple to platter. Drizzle remaining vinegar over cabbage and onion and serve.

SAUSAGES WITH BRAISED CABBAGE & CARAWAY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the sausages and fry them over a medium-high heat for 10 mins, turning as they take on colour. Remove from the pan, then wipe out the pan with kitchen paper.
• Melt the butter in the pan and tip in the onions. Season, cover and cook for 10 mins, stirring a few times during cooking, until the onions are softening and dark golden here and there.
• Sprinkle the caraway seeds into the onions, fry for 2 mins more, then nestle the cabbage wedges into the pan. Pour in the stock, pop on the lid and simmer for 5 mins. Add the sausages to the pan and cook for 10 mins more until the cabbage is tender but still holding some of its green colour, and the sausages are cooked through. Spoon in the crème fraîche and shake the pan a few times to help it mix into the rich onion sauce below. Serve in wide bowls with mashed potatoes and mustard.

SWISS CHEESE, HAM, AND CARAWAY SPREAD

Steps:

• In food processor blend cheese, ground ham, mayonnaise, butter, mustard and caraway seeds.
• Process, scraping down sides of bowl, until smooth.