Monday, April 10, 2023

Sauerkraut? Oh! No Sauerkraut and Kielbasa

 Forgot to get Kraut for the Easter Kielbasa.  My wife asked how to spell that and I told her it's Mexican: Qi le Basa.

1/2 head of cabbage, Slice the cabbage 1/4 inch thick
2 strips of bacon or 2 cooked slices cut into 1/2 inch pieces + 1 TBS Bacon grease 
1/2 tart apple sliced 1/8 inch thin
2 medium carrots diced (mainly for color)
1/2 medium onion, sliced thin
3-4 garlic cloves smashed or diced.
1/4 Cider vinegar
1 TBS Bavarian Blend (Penzy's)
1 tsp coarse ground mustard from a Hindustani grocery  (NOT Colemans or powdered muster)

fry the bacon and set aside.  if cooking kielbasa, brown the kielbasa in the bacon grease
Add the remaining ingredients, EXCEPT the cider and saute for 3-4 minutes.  
Add the cider to deglaze, and bring to a simmer. 
Cover and simmer for 35 - 45 minutes until vegetables are tender and the meat is 160 F 
  


 

Gritty Cauliflower Smash

 Gritty is the best mascot in the world.  

Shrimp and Grits are one of my favorite foods... but not low carb.  This is a sort of grits or rice substitute

1 Cup chopped Cauliflower
1/2 Cup Chick Peas
1 Medium Carrot sliced thin
1/4 Medium Onion

Boil the above and mash manually with a slotted potaoto masher

1TBS Sunny spain
1 TBS EVO
1 TBS Butter
1/2 - 1 tsp ground cumin
Garlic, Salt and Pepper to taste

Blend the above into the smash.  Serve in lieu of rice or grits 


Rutabaga: Swedes and Tatties Smash

 My better half has been diagnosed pre-diabetic.  Time for a lot of menu changes.  Out with the starch in with the veggies. I've been working on this for years... But I love potatoes, pasta and corn.   Rice, meh.

In the UK Rutabagas are also called Swedish Turnips or Swedes.  I have no idea where I read that but I love Rutabagas and all things Brassica.  I think Rutabagas are related to cauliflower and mustard, and those are genus Brassica.  I could look that up and be correct but the stream of conciousness is flowing freely now.

I think potatoes are Tatties.  Hence Swedes and Tatties. Basically a lower carb replacement for Mashed Potatoes.

4 LB Rutabaga 1/4" dice
1 LB Potato 1/2" dice
1 Large carrot chopped
1/2 onion diced
4-6 cloves of garlic, smashed.

Boil all of the above until fork tender, drain. reserve some water if needed to thin the smash. using a hand masher or imersion blender smash to desired consistency. 

1/4 cup  butter
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup Good Cheddar (grate yourself for better flavor)  
    Adams Reserve, Cabot Reserve, Cathedral City, Dubliner
1-2 tsp herbs du provence
1-2 tsp salt to taste
1 - 3 tsp garlic to taste
1/2 - 1 tsp ground pepper to taste

Blend all of the above into the smash, increase ingredients to taste. 


I didn't say it was healthy, just lower in carbs