Pork and Sauerkraut

It may not make the prettiest of plates, and admittedly, the smell is acquired, but this has become one of my favorite one-time a year meals. It’s a family tradition for us and we’ve always been told since childhood, eat a little sauerkraut on new year’s for good luck and prosperity! This recipe is straight from Grandmummy’s kitchen (my mom), and it is the best sauerkraut I’ve ever had. It is sweet enough that even kids will at least “try a strand”.

For this recipe you’ll need a crock pot, but you could adapt it using a dutch oven in the oven.

Serves 10-12. If you don’t want as much, half it, but the cook times all remain the same.

• Two bag or jar of sauerkraut

• Two packages of mild Italian sausage

• One pork loin

• One peeled and sliced apple

• 1/8-1/4 cup brown sugar (depending on your desired sweetness)

• 1 tsp salt

• Pepper to taste

• sprinkle of caraway seeds (optional)

If you have time, brown the pork loin in olive oil or butter but this step is optional.

Add the pork and sausage to the crock pot. Top with sauerkraut. Place apples on sauerkraut (this is my mom’s secret tip to making it a little sweeter). Then add brown sugar, salt and pepper.

Turn on low for 8 hours or high for 4.

I always serve with mashed potatoes.

Happy New Year and Blessings for a wonderful year!