Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Pork and Sauerkraut


For my 2013 New Year's Day table, I used my sugar mold as a centerpiece with some greenery, extra pinecones and my sledding figurines.


My dear Dad bought me these sledding Goebels back around 1980.  Aren't they so sweet?  I love to keep them out all winter.


Oops, I forgot the glasses!


My new placemats from Kohl's, marked down from 7.99 to 1.59... and then 20% off, but with my $10.00 Kohl's cash,  they were FREE...gotta love free, plus they're reversible.  I love the pinecone design as it's perfect for after Christmas. 

Yes, I'm still using my Christmas dishes as they look so pretty with my placemats.
  
It is tradition both in my family and my hubby's to have pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day.  We were both born in Pennsylvania and I don't know if that's where the custom comes from, but my Mom said that my grandfather always requested it.  I'd love to know where the tradition actually started. Here in Texas, black-eyed peas are traditionally served for good luck in the New Year.   I know some people cannot stand the taste or smell of sauerkraut,  but we LOVE it and two out of my four children love it, too.  We serve it  over mashed potatoes and it's SO heavenly.  If you DO like the taste, here's how we do it:


Shhh...don't tell anyone there are only 2 ingredients!
2-3 lbs. of pork, such a loin or shoulder
4-5 cans of sauerkraut

Season pork with salt and pepper.

Brown the pork in a little hot oil on all sides.  Add the sauerkraut and maybe two cans water.   Season with salt and pepper.   Cover and bake  in a 250 degree oven for 6-7 hours or longer.    You can also put this in a slow cooker and cook all day. 

Break up the pork and serve over hot mashed potatoes.  You'll get rave reviews from people who love sauerkraut!!

Happy New Year from my kitchen to yours!!
I am sharing this with:

35 comments:

  1. What great place mats from Kohl's! I have to get over there as I have a gift card!! I love sauerkraut and pork. I've made spare ribs with sauerkraut, too. Love it with a splash of white wine and juniper berries. xo

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  2. I love the cute things we can leave out for winter decorating...especially little figurines like yours! What treasures!

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  3. We eat pork and sauerkraut too! Love your new placemats Kitty, they'll be great all winter-can't beat the price! Cute little sledders too:@)

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  4. Everything loos good, Kitty and I love your green round placemats. They are the perfect background.

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  5. I like sauerkraut on a Ruben, but have never eaten it in a soup. Will have to try this.
    Happy New Year, Kitty. ~ Sarah

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  6. Kitty~ I've never had sauerkraut prepared that way! Love your Kohl's placemats! I often wonder how they can stay in business with their discounts on top of discounts and Kohl's cash! Wishing you a Happy & Healthy 2013!

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  7. This is a favorite at our house, Kitty.:-) Delish!

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  8. Hey Kitty..I didn't know you were a PA girl..That is where I live!! What area are you from.. And I am eating leftover Pork and Sauerkraut right now as I read this!!..No hotdogs in yours?? We use a nice loin piece of pork, sauerkraut of course but we also add hotdogs when it is almost done cooking and my son likes a piece of smoked Kielbasa added..We don't brown the meat first (although that does sound good)and we use bagged kraut..We also serve it over mashed potatoes..We cook ours in the Rival Roaster Oven that my dear niece gave me when our oven suddenly died last year and we had a Turkey ready to cook..I think it is against the law in PA to not have sauerkraut on New Years Day..lol..Wishing all the best to you in 2013!!

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  9. I love the Goebels - so cute! The pork and kraut sound and look great, Kitty. We like kraut but don't eat it often...usually have it with bratwursts. Happy New Year, Kitty!

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  10. Those sledding Goebels look nice and its good that you get it out every year :-)

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  11. Kitty, I think it's a German custom. Yep, we have to have sauerkraut and wurstchen (sausages).. but.. married a Texan so we share traditions and it's sauerkraut NYE and black eyed peas and ham on the first. Happiest of year to you! xo Marlis

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  12. LOVE those new placemats - free is always fun! =) Your little figurines are adorable too. We love sauerkraut and I've read recipes like yours, but haven't ever tried them yet...sounds wonderful. I love carrying on traditions....this is not one I was raised with, but how nice that you were. Happy New Year Buddy!! XO

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  13. OK, girlfriend...I was right there with you, rootin' for ya even...right up to the MASHED POTATOES!!!! WHAT??!?!?!?! Sauerkraut over mashed potatoes?!?!?!! C'mon, Kitty. You're killin' me here! I love mashed potatoes and I love sauerkraut, but together?!??!! You best put your plaid suit on and make like a used car salesman on that one, cause I'm not buyin' it! :-) But now my interest is piqued, so I'm going to have to try it. Surely there will come a day when there will be come leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge that coincides with me making sauerkraut and pork, and I will try it. You KNOW I'm going to let you know what I think...no holds barred! :-) I'm going to tell my Mom about this one. Maybe she'll try it with me. She's VERY adventurous when it comes to food. Mashed potatoes..................

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  15. Love your new placemats -- and I hope that 2013 (I just deleted the comment that said 2012 LOL) -- holds many treasures and pleasures for you!

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  16. Hi Kitty, We love sauerkraut in a casserole with dry mustard and sausages, served with baked apples or applesauce. But the mashed potatoes idea sounds like a combo my hubby would LOVE!!! I am enjoying hearing all the New Year's Day food ideas! Happy 2013! Linda

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  17. This looks like a great recipe! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home! Happy New Year Kitty!
    Sherry

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  18. we always had pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day growing up! Thanks for bringing back those memories!! got to love that Kohls Cash!!!

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  19. This sounds luscious and EASY! Do you drain and rinses the sauerkraut? I used to saute it with bacon and onion. Haven't don't it in a while, so thanks for the reminder. I never heard of putting it over potatoes, either, but I love potatoes, so it must be good.

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  20. I'm thinking that those Christmas dishes might be able to make a come back for St. Pat's day. They are wonderful! I've never been a fan of Sauerkraut because of my digestive system, but you make it sound fantastic. I've so enjoyed your many recipes this year. I look forward to building my KittyKookBook in 2013. Thanks for the inspiration! Cherry Kay

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  21. We were eating the same thing on New Year's Day, Kitty!! Tradition here in Ohio, too. I add some caraway seeds & beef bullion to the roaster but otherwise mine is the same as yours. Tell Alicia, we serve it over mashed potatoes, too.

    Your treasured Goebels are wonderful keepsakes! I have one that is sitting in a chair...I should put him out, 'cus that is what we'll be doing today. It is only 5º this morning!! Brrrr!

    Thanks for your sweet welcoming words & for all the great recipes you've shared. I've tried several over the past few months.

    Have a Blessed & Healthy 2013,
    fondly,
    Rett

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  22. Hi Kitty,
    Those placemats are really darn, pretties §;-)

    Hmmm... mashed potatoes with sauerkraut? Not in Europe, though. We had it during Christmas depends what you are serving. Mashed potatoes are not much serve. Europeans are potatoe eaters so, we only have cooked for the pickled heerings. Ahhh... foodie!

    Hope you had a great moment with your lovelies welcoming 2013.

    Greetings once again,
    /CC girl

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  23. Oh Yum! this is one of my favorite "smells" to walk into a warm house after being out in the cold all day!

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  24. We just had our pork last night, and I am TRYING topost it but Blogger won't let me add pictures!!?? Your dish sounds wonderful and I LOVE those sledding figures! XO, Pinky

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  25. Kitty, those sledding children are adorable. I need to use my sugar mold on the table again. You can't get a better deal than what you got on those pretty placemats. We had b-e peas and cabbage for our good-luck dinner. laurie

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  26. This is our traditional food on New Year's Day too! YUMMY! Kitty you make everything look delicious!

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  27. Oh I love the placemats, Kitty. The deep green color is perfect. The dish looks good. Happy New Year!....Christine

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  28. Great placemats dear Kitty and the food sounds yummy! I am a little hungry right now as is 12 noon, lol Thank you for your sweet visit..I usually do sleep before 12pm NY's Eve, except for this one!! Many blessings for you and yours and looking forward to lots of visits to your delish blog! Big hugs,
    FABBY

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  29. Yay, your linked! And I do love the placemats!

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  30. So, who cares if you are still using Christmas dishes? I've been known to get mine out long past the holidays just because I like them!

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  31. Hi Kitty,
    I use my holiday dishes through the winter sometimes, tis the season for holly and evergreen. We will just love you Pork and Sauerkraut, a very cozy meal. Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  32. Here in the south, we enjoy black eye peas on New Year's Day. My dad used to request those every year, but we haven't served those for a few years now. Hope that doesn't mean we'll get bad luck.

    You really lucked out getting those pretty placemats for free. I don't shop at Kohl's very often, but I love shopping for their tableware stuff on clearance because the deals are always so great.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and have a great day!

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  33. Hello, We love saurkraut!!!
    We were just saying we wanted to make it soon, only I cook mine in my pressure cooker. It is very moist and tender!
    Blessings, Roxy

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  34. OMG, those place mats are so pretty! Love your sledders too!

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  35. Great "free" placemats!! Thank you for sharing this at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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