Name: German Sauerkraut Casserole with Bacon and Brown Sugar
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 1 quart fresh sauerkraut (do not drain); 1 cup onion (diced); 1 15 ounce can petite diced tomatoes (drained); 1/2 pound bacon, cooked crisp (reserve 2-3 Tbsp drippings); 1/2 cup sugar; 1/2 cup brown sugar

Oh mein Gott, das ist gut, ja!

In early October my husband and I had one of our little adventures. They’re usually not much more than a day trip and an overnight but still, a break from the every day. A generous friend offered us the use of her beautiful home for a night. It sits on a private cove on a tucked away lake and it’s incredible. She’s thinking about making it into a vacation rental and wanted us to share our thoughts.

The weather was uncharacteristicly yucky for that time of year as it turned out. Cold and wet. So instead of a walk, we went for a drive looking for something fun to eat and landed in nearby Eustis, Nebraska. It’s “The Sausage Capitol” of our dear state. Eustis is SO German and so famous for the sausage made there that the town’s annual Celebration is called “Wurst Tag” which literally means Sausage Day!

We drove through the tiny, tidy downtown looking for a cafe. Then we noticed a sign that read “German Dinner served today 11:00-1:00.” We were in adventure mode and eager to try something different. So we thought, why not? I mean my husband is 100% German, right? And German food is hearty, flavorful and unique. So, we bought a ticket and got in line.

The German dinner in Eustis was served as a buffet. I’m always game for trying a new dish so I tasted a little dab of this interesting looking casserole and immediately grabbed a larger serving. The flavor is indescribably sweet, sour, salty and savory all at the same time! We all know the marriage of bacon and brown sugar is one made in heaven, right? Well I gotta tell ya that that the angels sang Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus after my first bite and I had to track down the person who brought it!

It didn’t take long to sniff out the person who provided the casserole. She is proud of her recipe! The tall lanky lady obligingly wrote it down on a slip of scrap paper and told me it would taste best if I used her homemade sauerkraut! What an entreprenuer! She told us she makes and sells 500 pounds of the fermented cabbage every year! I may just look her up and buy some if we’re lucky enough to go to Wurst Tag in June!

Don’t Knock It ‘Til You’ve Tried It!!

You know how some dresses just don’t look good on the hanger but when you try it on it’s amazingly flattering? This is that kind of dish. You’ve got to trust me on this one. I might not have tried this casserole if I just ran across the recipe somewhere. Tomatoes and brown sugar?? Doesn’t taste good on the hanger if you know what I mean! But boy oh boy is it ever yummy!!