by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Y’all remember last month when New Inklings Press introduced their February #MediaMenagerie Member? [Phew, I double-dog dare ya to say that five times fast on a late Sunday evening.] Bridges the Raccoon was brought on board to help writers find a way to get from here to there . . . Whatever “here” and “there” is.
Well, this weekend, it was in the kitchen. And after a crazy usual month of go-here-see-there-stop-now-breathe-okay-get-going-again activity, I just needed a bit of a break. So I opened the fridge and pantry, and asked Bridges what he thought.
Being the smart raccoon that he is, he foraged around a little, and put me to work. Yup, this recipe was created over ten years ago in a tiny apartment by This Girl and her daughter. Then, just like Bridges did now, I grabbed a few items from the food stash and decided to put them together. I took a chance, turned on the slow cooker, and left the apartment. When Dot and I came home that evening, the aroma was heavenly. The taste like something from a restaurant. And I knew I had to write it down.
This Slow Cooker Pork & ‘Kraut recipe began
The Unemployment Cookbook.
And since I’m in full swing of writing-editing-blogging-marketing again, it’s a no-brainer that my no-time-to-cook weekend should include that which started it all.
Now, you gotta be impressed with the frugality of it all, yes? Take a look at this:
With eight servings to this dish, that’s less than $1.75 per serving! Hey, I’m not making this stuff up! That’s some pretty hearty eating without a hefty price, dontcha think?
Don’t forget to set up your mise en place. It’s French, pronounced “MEES ahn plahs” and it basically means “everything in place.” Betcha didn’t think this was a cultural post, too, did ya? Well, there ya go. I mean, voila!
So, you ready for the recipe? Okay, here it is, Bridges style:
Bring people to your table with this hearty, delicious dish.
Ingredients
- 2 cans (22 oz. each) Cream of Mushroom Soup.
- 2 medium onions, peeled, and chopped. Because no one likes onion skins in their food.
- 6 medium russet potatoes, sliced. Like thick potato chips. Only raw.
- 1 jar (32 oz.) Old Fashioned Sauerkraut. The kind that Grandpa still makes.
- 8 thin-cut pork chops. Boneless. Because otherwise they wouldn't be so thin.
Instructions
- First peel the onions, and chop them. Some like them thick, some like thin. It's up to you.
- Then, wash your potatoes. Seriously. Bridges is a domesticate raccoon. He don't eat no dirt! Slice them, then rinse with cool water to remove the starch.
- Put the sauerkraut in a large colander and rinse, rinse, rinse. Sure, it's yummy stuff, but let's keep the flavor from being too overwhelming.
- Now, spread a large spoonful of soup on the bottom of your slow cooker. This keeps the meat from sticking. Layer some sauerkraut and onion. Cover with two pork chops. Maybe three. Depends on how much room you have in your cooker. Top with potato slices. You can even arrange them all pretty like if you want.
- Continue the layers until you run out of stuff to layer. Then you can just dump whatever's left on top.
- Make sure the cover fits snugly.
- Cook on low for eight hours, or medium/high for five.
- Serve with your favorite vegetable, bread, or wine.
- This is one dish you won't find going in the trash!
Click on any of the photos to order your own copy of The Unemployment Cookbook, or visit http://newinklingspress.com/.
Now if you’ll excuse me. Bridges forgot to take out the garbage. We’ll see ya round the dinner table.
With a big fork and a hungry tummy,
Happy Eating.
~Molly Jo
That would be quite agreeable to me!