'Tis the season for hosting. At our house that means it's time to bring out the traditional dishes of our German heritage. A neighborhood favorite is our Sauerkraut. No, you don't eat the stuff straight from the jar. That is just one ingredient! Please check out how we do it:

1. You found this recipe on danielhaas.org
Traditional German Sauerkraut,
made the American Way
Recipe for 4-6 people
Ingredients
2 glasses of Sauerkraut
1 glass of unsweetened applesauce (use 2 cups or more)
Variation: cut 3 big apples in little pieces
2 smoked porkchops or smoked sausages
Variation: if no meat is desired use 2 tablespoons of
butter/margarine
4-6 juniper berries (to your liking)
3 bay leaves
salt, pepper and sweetener to your liking
Directions
Put all your ingredients in your crockpot: first Sauerkraut,
add juniper berries and bay leaves, layer 2 cups of
applesauce on top. Turn your crockpot on high. Let it cook
for at least an hour. Stir now the Kraut and add either the
meat or the butter/margarine. Turn the crockpot to low and
let it cook for 3 hours. Add salt, pepper and sweetener to
your liking.
Guten Appetit
You can leave the house, watch TV, go to the movies while
your Kraut simmers in the pot. If it cooks longer – no
problem. It is moist enough. You can serve the Kraut right
away. For greatest flavor though let it cool down and re-heat
it. Then the taste develops to its fullest. Traditionally served
with mashed potatoes.