Recipes

Pioneer Sauerkraut

This sauerkraut is simple to make whether you want to make 1 pint or 100 quarts. The entire fermentation process takes place inside the canning jar. No heat or sealing of jars is necessary.

This recipe came from my Grandmother and has been passed on for generations. Before we tried this recipe, we fermented sauerkraut in crocks in the kitchen. The kraut would start working, bubble up and leak onto the floor. Mold would develop on top and need to be skimmed off. By the time the sauerkraut was ready to eat, we had lost our appetite for it. This kraut avoids this messy, smelly process.

The first time we ate this sauerkraut we noticed a wonderful change in our bowel movements. Because no heat is used in the process, the finished sauerkraut is teaming with friendly bacteria for the intestinal tract. We enjoy this sauerkraut often and never tire of its taste. It's a great tonic to revitalize the digestive processes. To receive maximum benefits from the kraut, eat it raw in salads or sandwiches or heat it just enough to warm it.

YIELD: 10 pounds of cabbage (uncut) yields 4 quarts kraut

Salt (use unrefined, non-iodized salt if possible)
1 teaspoon per pint
2 teaspoons per quart

Have ready clean canning jars, lids and rings.
Chop or shred cabbage finely.
Pack cabbage tightly in jars using wooden dowel. Fill jars only to shoulders to allow room for cabbage to work.
Add salt and pour hot water over cabbage, leaving 1 inch of head space. The hot water gets the action started.
Wipe rims and screw lids onto jars. No need to process.
Wipe jars clean and store in cool place for up to a year.
Ready to begin using in two weeks.

Water may spew out as the kraut works. Lay towels under the jars as a precaution. This kraut mellows out as the seasons progress. Be cautious when opening a jar - this kraut is teaming with life and may spew liquid. We put a bowl under the jar when we open it.

Everyday Green Drink - Frothy and Refreshing

2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice or Maple Lemonade (recipe follows)
4 handfuls of washed greens (stems removed)
Makes 2 servings

Place ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. For a smoother drink, blend longer or strain. Green Drink will separate if allowed to set and must be stirred or blended again.

Our favorite greens are parsley and spinach. We have also added leaf lettuce, alfalfa and clover sprouts, as well as wild greens like chickweed and sheep sorrel. Any edible green will work, but the milder greens taste best.

The amount of greens does not need to be exact. For example, to make four servings, we use one large bunch of parsley or a bunch of spinach and 4 cups of juice. Divide ingredients in half and blend in two sessions.

Maple Lemonade

juice of one lemon (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 to 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
water to make 1 quart

Mix ingredients together and use as a base for Green Drink, instead of pineapple juice.

Fresh Applesauce

Peel and quarter 4 apples. Put in food processor or blender with a little apple juice or water. Pulse until sauce forms. Add a ripe banana for creaminess. Flavor with cinnamon and vanilla. Eat right away before sauce turns brown.