An old tradition that my family has upheld has been New Year's Sauerkraut. I know that most believe "tradition" to be a veiled attempt at validating "luck" or "superstition", but for whatever reason, I believe (like many still do) that eating sauerkraut on New Year's Day will make your coming year a profitable one. While I work hard to earn my pay, I think that the tradition may have some validity in bolstering one's subconscious for success. I have always earned substantially more each successive year since age 17. The rub is having to eat sauerkraut- what many people (justifiably)consider simply... gross. So years ago, I came up with a recipe that I've refined for nearly two decades to make our annual ritual at least tolerable if not enjoyable. My kids are the most finicky eaters on God's Green Earth, but they have yet to miss at least stopping by on New Year's Day for one or two bowls of the stuff.

You have to follow the recipe exactly or it'll taste like the stuff they tried to feed you in school. And that's... well... gross. You may want to halve the recipe since I cook large.

(2) 32 oz packages sauerkraut (buy the cheap stuff- its just shredded cabbage)
2 lbs polska kielbasa
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tblsp black pepper
2 tblsp salt

1. Rinse the sauerkraut thoroughly- I mean like it has herpes. The water in the packages is the reason most kraut has that nasty after-taste.

2. In a medium large pot, mix the kraut, sugar, pepper, salt and add just enough water to be level with the top of the kraut. Boil covered at medium-high heat for two hours. That's right. Two hours. And stir liberally.

3. At the end of two hours, slice the keilbasa into 1/2 inch thick discs and add to the kraut. Continue cooking covered at medium heat for 45 minutes. Simmer on low heat for 15 additional minutes.

4. Serve hot while watching a Football game. And drinking beer. Beer helps. Except for the kids. They don't like beer too much and hog the bathroom if they do.

As you can see, the cooking time is huge. That's what makes the stuff taste better and not so... gross.

Give it a try. Who knows? Maybe you'll hit big cash next year and remember next New Year's that this recipe may have helped. Or not.

Oh! And Happy New Year!

How nice Slash!!! Happy New Year to you too.

I guess this thread has become a new year celebration point and wishing thread . Thanks slash for starting it.

So her it goes, happy new year to all the players and ppl who are connected to us. I wish ur year ahead brings to prosperity and happiness.

Slash wrote:1. Rinse the sauerkraut thoroughly- I mean like it has herpes.

I knew I didn’t like sauerkraut for a reason *shudders*