Uncle Emils Czech Style Sauerkraut Recipes

UNCLE EMIL'S CZECH-STYLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Put sauerkraut & liquid, butter & caraway seeds in a lrg saucepan over med heat. When the mixture begins to bubble slightly, lower heat to simmer.
• Peel & grate the potato & onion. Add them to top of the kraut & press lightly into the kraut w/the flat surface of a spoon. Do not stir into the kraut.
• Cover & cont to simmer (add sml amt of water as needed) till the grated potato is cooked. Now combine the pan contents (this process keeps raw potato from scorching &/or sticking to the bottom of the pan).
• Add the applesauce, mix well & taste. Add more applesauce if you prefer a sweeter, more apple flavored kraut.
• All we need now is some meat flavor in the kraut. If you have meat drippings for that, deglaze your meat pan & add to the kraut. If not, add a chicken bouillon cube to the kraut. Be sure it's completely dissolved & mixed in well w/the kraut. Serve it up!
• NOTES: After pan contents are combined in #3, stir freq to ck moisture & prevent any ingredients from sticking to the pan. --- After the last step, you can cont to simmer if you feel the kraut is too liquid, but is unlikely to be needed.

UNCLE BILL'S SAUERKRAUT WITH WINE

Steps:

• Break away any bad outside leaves and discard.
• Rinse cabbage under cold running water.
• Cut cabbage heads into quarters.
• Do not use cores, discard them after shredding.
• Finely shred cabbage or slice with a good sharp knife.
• In a large crock, layer with 2 inches of shredded cabbage.
• Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of pickling salt.
• Place sliced pieces of one red pepper over.
• Repeat layering until all cabbage, salt and red pepper are used up.
• There should be about 4 layers.
• Pour water over cabbage.
• Now pour the wine over cabbage.
• Place a large plate to cover most of the top surface of the cabbage.
• Place a 4 to 5 pound clean rock (cleaned and washed and soaked in white vinegar) on top of the plate as a weight.
• If liquid does not come to the surface, just add a bit more cold water (or wine if you prefer.) Cover top with several layers of cheesecloth and tie with a good string so the cloth does not fall off.
• Leave cabbage to ferment for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm area (70 F to 75 F) or until it starts to foam around the edges of the plate.
• Move the crock to a cooler area (about 60 F to 65 F) and continue to ferment for another 2 weeks.
• At this time, taste to see if the sauerkraut is curing.
• When it suits your taste, pack the sauerkraut and some liquid into 12 sterilized quart size jars leaving a 1/2" head space.
• Wipe jar rims clean.
• Prepare and place lids according to manufacturers instructions.
• Place screw lids on just finger tight.
• Process in boiling water in a canner for 25 minutes.
• Remove jars and allow to cool for 12 hours.
• Check to see if all jars are sealed.
• Lids should be concave (curved down).
• Re-process jars that are not sealed, but remember to change with new lids.
• Store in a cool, dark place.

GERMAN STYLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Fry bacon until almost crisp.
• Add onion and cook until limp.
• Add rinsed sauerkraut.
• Add water to cover.
• Put caraway and juniper in a tea ball or wrap in cheesecloth so it can be removed later.
• Add bay leaf.
• Cover and let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Add more water if necessary.
• Should be juicy but not soupy.
• Remove spices.
• Stir in shredded potato.
• The potato will melt and turn saucy.
• Stir in wine.

MORAVIAN STYLE SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Drain juice from kraut.
• With kraut still in bag add tap water.
• Pour kraut and water into a saucepan and heat over a low flame.
• Fry bacon, crumble and add to kraut, saving fat for onion.
• Sauté onion in fat till soft and add to kraut.
• Add potato to kraut.
• Simmer for 45 minutes.
• Make a roux by adding flour to bacon fat.
• If too sour add 1 tsp sugar to kraut.
• Good dining.

KNEDLIKY - CZECH DUMPLING WITH SAUERKRAUT (ZELI)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center, and pour in the eggs and 1 cup of milk. Stir to blend, and add enough additional milk to make a moist battery dough, not like pancake batter. Use a sturdy wooden spoon to beat the dough at least 200 strokes, rolling it over and over in the bowl until smooth and an occasional bubble appears on the surface. Add the dry white bread cubes, and stir into the dough until they disappear.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place the dough onto a cheesecloth or white cotton cloth, and form into a loaf shape. Wrap the cloth around the loaf, and tie the ends.
• Place the loaf into the boiling water, and cook for 45 minutes, turning the loaf over about half way through. Remove from the water, unwrap, and cover with a tea towel. Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Fry bacon in a small skillet over medium-high heat until evenly browned. Set aside. Place the drained sauerkraut into a saucepan, and add enough water to cover the surface. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add bacon, and season with salt, pepper and caraway seeds. Stir together the cornstarch and water; mix into the sauerkraut, and simmer for a few minutes before removing from the heat.
• Slice the dumpling loaf. Drizzle dumpling slices with some of the roast drippings from the pan. Serve with sauerkraut.

ED & SANDI'S PORK ROAST AND DUMPLINGS W/ SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• DUMPLINGS: Mix and knead flour, prepared instant potatoes and eggs. (See photo #2) Go on, fondle that mass! Add a little water if too dry or flour if too wet. The dough should no longer be sticking tenaciously to your hands or the board as you knead. Be careful not to add too much flour or your dumplings will be too hard. Use your culinary expertise. If, by chance, you have none, welcome to the club. Form dough into a loaf (See photo #3) and set aside. Go put the next load of laundry in the washer and neglect, as usual, folding the dryer load until someone complains so loudly, you have no choice but to submit.
• PORK ROAST: Place sliced and now screaming garlic into slits you've cut all over roast. Season with the sage and half of each of the following; caraway seeds, salt, pepper and onion powder. Push the laundry out of your mind. It really has no business intruding on your kitchen time, now does it.
• Sear in skillet on all sides. Remind yourself to use the splatter guard next time you do this and turn the stereo up louder to muffle the sounds of self-flagellating irritation ricocheting through your head as you count the newly forming grease blisters on your hands and forearms.
• Put into baking pan and cook at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Unless the roast has quite a bit of fat attached to it, add several pats of butter on and around the roast. Remind yourself that there are others in the house who, if they really appreciated you, would be doing that laundry.
• Lower heat to 375 and cook for 1.5 hours. Lower again after that to 250 for 15 to 30 minutes to finish. Meanwhile, QVC wants you to know.... "You're worth it!" (the diamond earrings...Give in.).
• Check the roast occasionally and baste with rendered fat, adding butter if needed, but don't tell your doctor or at least don't mention our names.
• RESUME DUMPLING PRODUCTION WHILE ROAST COOKS: Cut across loaf of dough at 1" intervals (see photo #4). Roll into cylindrical shapes about 1" in diameter x 3-4" long.
• Boil several at a time, but don't overcrowd, in a large pot until they float like -- well, like things that float. Make sure they don't stick to the bottom while boiling. Cut into a cylinder to check for uniform doneness. The color/shade should be the same throughout the thickness of the dumpling. Remove the remainder of the dumplings and cut each into 1/2" slices, setting them aside in large bowl. Finish boiling/slicing all dumpling cylinders.
• What laundry?.
• MEANWHILE: Cook the drained sauerkraut with salt, pepper, the remaining caraway seeds, (we like LOTS!) and dried onion flakes on medium heat with 1 tablespoon butter until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. If your mother in law is present, notice how she periodically cuts her eyes toward you in the kitchen -- in essence, "back seat cooking". If she tries to take over, asking if she can "help you", suddenly remember the laundry. Laugh internally as she slumps toward the laundry room.
• Check for doneness by cutting into roast. Don't worry about losing any juices - you have butter, one of the major food groups, on your side. Resist the temptation to ram your incisors into roast before it's plated.
• Serve roast sliced. Use roast juice over sauerkraut and dumplings. Or, for the less socially correct, bathe everything on your plate in good, old-fashioned FAT! Yum!

NECKBONES & SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Cook neck bones till falling apart done.
• Drain water off, leaving about 1/2 cup.
• Pour kraut over top of meat and mix in with meat.
• Cover with good fitting lid.
• Cook on low till kraut is good and hot.
• Serve with mashed potatoes.