SANDRA'S QUICK HOMEMADE SAUERKRAUT with CARROTS

 Absolutely the freshest and best tasting sauerkraut,

in my humble opinion,

which is great on venison or moose Reuben grilled sandwiches

or Smoked Brat hot dogs...

Yield: (3 cups)

Prep: 5 Mins. (more time if shredding your own veggies)

Cook: 45 Mins.

Store: Refrigerated up to 2 wks

INGREDIENTS

1 (16-oz. pkg) Organic Shredded Cabbage and Carrots

--or 1/2 head of medium-size green cabbage thinly sliced into shreds and 1 shredded carrot on large holes of box grater--

1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

3/4 cup water

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon whole caraway seeds

METHOD

Add all the ingredients to a non-reactive Dutch Oven (or heavy-bottom stainless steel pot).  Stir, and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 45 minutes, while occasionally stirring.

Let sauerkraut cool completely.  Spoon into a glass quart-size wide-mouth Mason jar, cover with a plastic lid (not metal), and store up to 2 weeks in refrigerator. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S BELOVED CHEESY SHREDDED POTATO-BACON BAKE

This entree of potatoes, cheese,

bacon and spinach is perfect for

brunch, a potluck, game day, or a quick,

colorful and flavorful dinner

with a salad...

Servings: (12)

Prep: 20 Mins.

Bake: 1 Hr.-15 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Sauce:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ white Vidalia sweet onion, diced

½ cup celery, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

2 teaspoons worcestershire

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

Salt and white pepper, to taste

Other ingredients:

1 (1 lb.-4 oz. pkg.) refrigerated shredded real hash browns (I used Simply Potatoes)

1 (10 oz. pkg.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, hand-squeezed, and chopped finer

4 strips of bacon, sliced and browned

2 cups medium shredded cheddar cheese, divided

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a 9”x13” baking dish, and set aside.

In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add onion and celery and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.  

Whisk in flour, and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in milk, chicken broth, and worcestershire, then bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring regularly, until desired consistency is achieved, about 10 minutes. 

Remove from heat, and fold in mayonnaise and sour cream to combine.  Add salt and white pepper, to taste.

Add shredded potatoes, spinach, bacon, and 1-1/2 cups shredded cheese to a large bowl.  

Add sauce, and fold mixture to combine. 

Spread mixture in prepared baking dish, cover baking dish with foil, and bake for 1 hour. 

Remove from oven.

Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese and bake, uncovered, for an additional 15 minutes.  

Let cool 15 minutes.  Cut into 12 equal squares, and serve. ~ Enjoy!

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Tip:  This baked potato entree can be prepared ahead of time, such as the night before and refrigerated, and then baked the following day (just bring it to room temperature for 30 minutes prior to placing in oven).

SANDRA'S HEARTY CAMP BREAKFAST

Children truly enjoy helping prepare
 this recipe. It is a very fun weekend-breakfast
 to involve your family in making,
and then savoring the rewards afterwards...

Servings: (6)

Prep: 15 Mins. | Bake: 15 Mins.
Posted: by Sandra at

--Equipment: Nonstick 12-tin muffin pan

INGREDIENTS

***First set of 6 tins:
1 lg. russet potato, pre-baked, cooled, and shredded
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
ground pepper, to taste
3 slices of bacon, cooked, and crumbled (reserve bacon drippings)
6 eggs

***Remaining set of 6 tins:
1 (8.5 oz.) box jiffy corn muffin mix
1 egg, beaten
1 (10 oz.) can of mexican corn, drained
1 (4.5 oz.) can of mild diced green chilies, drained
¼ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/3 cup of milk

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile, brown the bacon, and cut into crumbles, and set aside. With a paper towel, grease the muffin tins well with reserved bacon drippings.

Shred the potato and place equally amongst the first six tins by pressing into bottom and sides to form cup shapes, and then lightly sprinkle potato cups with onion powder, and ground pepper to taste. Sprinkle bacon equally in the potato cups, and then gently drop in one egg on each.

For the remaining six tins, mix all cornbread ingredients in a medium bowl, and let batter stand for 5 minutes. Equally spoon the cornbread batter into remaining empty six tins.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until cornbread is done (when a toothpick inserted comes out clean) - enjoy!


~~~~~~~~~~~

Tip: Bake potato ahead of time by scrubbing and piercing it, and place on a microwave-safe dish, and then cook on high for 5 minutes in microwave, letting it cool, and then store in refrigerator until ready to use. You can also prepare the bacon before hand to save even more time, and store in the refrigerator as well ~~ I generally added a bit of shredded gruyere cheese on the outer rim of the egg before baking tins...so the yolks still take center stage -- mmmm...another option.

SANDRA'S AWESOME SKILLET POTATO AND ONION PIE

You cannot go wrong with this side or main dish...

Servings: 4
Prep: 5 mins. |
Cook: About 20 mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large russet potatoes, peeled, and grated
½ onion, finely julienned
1 clove of garlic, minced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Fine grain kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves

METHOD

In a nonstick 10” saute pan, heat the vegetable oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent, and add garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, grate the potatoes, squeeze excess moisture and add them to a medium bowl, and pour the skillet mixture over the potatoes, then gently toss to combine. Season with kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste, and add the chopped parsley and fold to combine.

Press grated potato mixture into heated nonstick skillet with back of spatula. Let cook undisturbed over medium heat, until crisp on bottom for about 8 to 10 minutes. Gently flip onto a plate, and then slide other side into nonstick skillet to finish cooking undisturbed for another 8 to 10 minutes.

To serve, slide onto a cutting board, and slice into four wedges. – Enjoy!

With sunny-side up eggs...

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Tip: This is excellent with eggs for breakfast, or a nice accompaniment with any meat, poultry, etc.


Note:  During the last 5 minutes, I like to make four indentations, and add one egg into each, then loosely tent skillet with foil -- This way your potatoes and eggs are perfectly cooked all in one skillet (See photo to the right).