Skip to main content

Finally Sauerkraut

Finally the sauerkraut was ready! All total it took about 3 weeks.

Sauerkraut

1 head cabbage
1 T kosher salt
salted water

For cooking sauerkraut

2T butter
1T olive oil
1/4 c brown sugar
1T caraway seeds

Shred cabbage. (I did it by hand but no one will think less of you if you use a food processor - hey you're making your own sauerkraut!). Rub salt into cabbage. Let sit for at least two hours. Meanwhile you can simmer the water with salt in it. It needs to taste like what you would make pasta in - like sea water. Heat water until salt dissolves. Let the water cool.

Smash the cabbage into a glass jar. You really need to press it down tight into the jar. Add water to cover the cabbage by about 2". Place a piece of cheesecloth over the cabbage. Put a plate over the cheesecloth. (I used a plastic top to a sour cream container). It needs to be big enough to cover most of the cabbage. Now place a weight on top of the plate (I used a bottle of water). Next cover with a kitchen towel. Use a rubberband to secure the towel over the jar. Set aside for several weeks to cure. You will notice some foam gathering at the top and it will look like the liquid is bubbling - that is fine. It does give off a little bit of a scent but it is not offensive.  I was able to keep it in the kitchen.
Rinsed and Ready
Drain the sauerkraut. Then give it a good rinse. I only cooked about 1/2 of the batch and sealed the rest away for another day.

Melt the butter and add the oil in a skillet. Let it cook down for a few minutes. Then add the brown sugar. Continue to cook.  I like it cooked down quite a bit to a point where it starts to caramelize. (It almost looks like caramelized onions because of the size of the cabbage). Then add the caraway seeds. Taste if it tastes too sweet add a little bit of vinegar.
I prefer it dark and caramelized
Served with nice grilled Kielbasi my Grandmother would be proud



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Waffled Hash Browns

I'm not that much of a fan of one-trick ponies taking up real estate in my kitchen. I know that a waffle iron can be classified as that, but now I can rationalize that it's not. Who knew you could make hash browns in it? Waffled Hash Browns (Adapted from Cooking Light ) 1 1/2 lb russet potato (shredded) salt/pepper to taste 1/4 t garlic powder 1 1/2T butter, melted Preheat waffle iron. Squeeze liquid out of potatoes by blotting between two paper towels. Toss potatoes, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Brush both sides of the waffle iron with butter. Spread potatoes evenly on waffle iron. Close and cook 2 minutes. Press iron closed completely and cook about 12 minutes or until golden brown. I did not feel that they browned as nicely as in the picture on the original recipe, but then again I don't have a food stylist do I? The drawback of this recipe is that you have to share this. Since they take about 15 minutes, it's a little difficult to make a second one...

Citrus Shortcake

In my mind, this cake is sort of a blank slate. The cornmeal gives it a little crunch but it is quite versatile. I drizzled a citrus icing on it this time around. I think there are many other things that you could do. You could macerate some berries in sugar and top the cake with them. I think some heated jam (orange, strawberry, or raspberry) drizzled over would be nice. I scoop of ice cream never hurt anyone. A dollop of whip cream never did either. I think you get the idea. Citrus Shortcake (Adapted from Cooking Light circa 2010) 3/4 c sugar 1/4 cup butter 2 eggs 1 T orange rind, grated 2T fresh OJ 1/2 t vanilla 1 c flour 2T cornmeal 3/4 t baking powder 1/2 t baking soda 1/4 t salt 2/3 c buttermilk Grease a 9" square pan set aside. Cream butter and sugar for 5 minutes in a mixer.  Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl). Set aside. Add eggs one a time to butter mixture; beating well after ...

The Grappa Report

Star Anise, Cinnamon, Blueberry Once upon a time, we made Limoncello . We used straight-grain alcohol (which we had to buy in a different state because it was not sold it ours!). It was firewater. We tried to pawn it off on unsuspecting friends and relatives. It did not work. So when friends of ours said they wanted to share some Grappa that they had received from a friend, I was slightly suspicious. It was a little firewater-ish but not as much as the Limoncello. We decided to try to infuse it with some flavors - star anise, cinnamon, and blueberry. We got mixed results: Star Anise - was the most successful. It mellowed its sharpness.  Cinnamon - We left the cinnamon in for about a week. I think it was too long. It left a very woody taste. Perhaps, less infusion time would have given a better result. Blueberry - We thought if we mashed the blueberries, they would make the Grappa murky. So we first put them in whole. Nothing happened. We then cut them in half. The...