My mother was of German background. Her parents were both born in Germany and her mother came to this country at the ripe old age of 14 to be a domestic for a wealthy family. That is where the sauerkraut for us came from. Mashed potatoes? Delicious anytime anyplace. Play with the ingredients as there really is no set recipe. It's just the mingling of all those wonderful flavors that make it mouth wateriing delicious. In fact, we are heading over to our daughter's house in about an hour to enjoy the dinner.
Go to Kuner on search and read about them. They began in 1883 in Colorado. :) Interesting reading. Anyway, enjoy today and the food that begins our New Year. Good health and happiness in the New Year!!!
I always think of my German grandad's handmade "slaw grater" hanging on a hook at the top of the basement stairs. You just never knew when there might be a cabbage that needed brining into kraut, so that grater had to be handy!
He made the wooden part of the grater, but I guess you could buy blades for them back then--but I'm certain he sharpened it himself. The crocks they used to brine the kraut are certainly collectors' items now.
I have his old meat grinder for sausages and such. Those hand-cranked ones haven't changed a bit in over a century.
You'll get a kick out of this. Went to daughters...she had everything ready to go and then her oven went out!!! Can you believe that? So, we packed everything up and came back to our house. :) She lightly browned the pork loin in the bacon grease then took it out and placed it in a glass baking dish while she warmed the sauerkraut and added the beer. She let that cook on top of the stove for about 15 minutes till the flavors bleneded then added the kraut all around the dish with the pork in the middle. Then tucked in potato slices and apple slices here and there, S&P and placed it all in OUR oven. Depends on the size of your roast as to cooking time of course as you already know. After it was taken out of the oven we let it rest for about 15 minutes...Was delicious with mashed potatoes and butter, dinner rolls and applesauce on the side. So, even though her oven went on the blink on this first day of the New Year...the meal sure made up for it. :) Tomorrow we are going back over her house but will heat the leftovers in the microwave. :) Happy Eating!!!