Fresh Polish Kielbasa

Okay, this is the real deal in my opinion. The stuff at the retail grocery stores for one is pre-cooked, not fresh. And chock full of crap for lack of a better word. Of course, getting it around here is somewhat difficult. But I finally found some at a local store, International Star Market located in Jeffersontown, KY.

My mom was Polish and so I was always raised on the good stuff. We would have it shipped from Michigan where my uncle was a butcher and made it fresh there daily. Also, the trick is cooking it right. You want it done, but not overcooked and NEVER pierce the casing!!

Anyway, here it is....

Get skillet nice and hot. Pour in a bottle of beer(can also just use water, but beer makes for a more intense flavor), add sausage. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a "low boil". Cook until all liquid has evaporated. Add 4 tablespoons of butter and half an onion sliced. Brown sausage on both sides and caramelize onions.

Slow Cooker Carnitas

These were very good! The meat was fall apart tender. We stuffed it into tortillas and topped with diced tomatoes, a little cheese and sour cream.

Slow Cooker Carnitas

2T tomato paste
2T adobo sauce(from canned chipotles)
3T chopped garlic
1T chili powder
1t salt
1t pepper
3lb boneless Boston butt, cut into 2" pieces *I actually used boneless country style ribs cut into 2" pieces because I already had them. I'm sure they actually ended up making it even more flavorful**
1c beer of chicken broth **I used the beer which I think is a must!**

Combine first six ingredients in slow cooker. Stir in meat pieces. Microwave beef on high for 2 minutes. Pour over meat. Do not stir. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours. Shred meat using two forks.
**Be sure to spoon some of the sauce over the meat.**

Pork & Sauerkraut

This is so good. One of my favorite fall dishes.
I just kinda made it up so don't really have a set recipe for it.

Basically, I brown some pork chops on both sides in a little olive oil in a Dutch Oven. Remove chops and add cut up apples, garlic and onion and brown. Throw in some sauerkraut, a pinch of cinnamon, black pepper and some caraway seeds. Put chops bake in and slow cook in the oven at 200 degrees for about an hour. Delish!