Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sauerkraut

The latest installment in NPR's series about craaazzzyy holiday meal traditions was about a family in Charlotte who serves sauerkraut with their turkey, and how craaazzzyy that was. Well, it's not that crazy - my mother's mother made sauerkraut for Thanksgiving and Christmas, too. Like the family in the NPR story, my grandmother was eastern European (either Russian or Romani, depending who you ask), so I'm guessing it's probably not at all craaazzzyyy, for people from that part of the world. It's actually really good, too.

Anyway, the people in the story used caraway and dill for their kraut. That sounds fine. But, it's not how I learned to do it. Here's what I do:

  • Two cans of kraut, drained
  • A beer
  • A cup of chicken stock
  • A tablespoon of pickling spice
  • A clove of garlic, chopped
  • A dozen or so black peppercorns
  • Three or four pork chops. Trim off any external fat.

Heat some oil in a big dutch oven, brown the pork chops. Take the pork chops out, then splash in some beer to cool down the pan a bit. Add the drained sauerkraut and garlic and gently sautee for five minutes or so, until the kraut starts turning from yellow-green to more of a straw color.

Add the pickling spice and pepper. Return the pork chops to the pot. Add enough chicken stock + beer to cover.

Then reduce the heat, cover, and let it simmer for three hours.

When it's done, all the sharp acidity of the kraut will be gone, and replaced with something rich and mellow, spicy, with just a hint of sour. The pork should be absurdly tender. Remove the bones, if you used bone-in chops.

Brain Dead

Nothing to say these days. It seems that all my mental energy has been sucked up by the process of finding a house plan we can afford and a builder we like, and Skyrim.

I am starting the process of getting the entries for the 2012 iteration of my Top 100 Records set up so I can start voting on them - using the same system we used for the 2011 Reader's Record Poll. I'm toying with the idea of opening a parallel vote on it, so other people can vote on the same records that I'm voting on - see how your picks differ from mine, on the same set of records. We'll see if I have the energy to make that happen.

Tell Me Whyne

The Decemberists: can someone tell me why I should like them ?

Every time the singer opens his mouth, I want to grab him by the scruff of his neck and drag him to a speech therapist.

Nothing To See Here

This sounds like a great idea.

A new laser designed to temporarily blind people is going to be trialled by police.

Called the SMU 100 it costs £25,000 and sends out a three-metre "wall of light" that leaves anyone caught in it briefly unable to see.

Designed by a former Royal Marine Commando, it was originally developed for use against pirates in Somalia.

It's makers claim an unnamed police force is set to trial the device which could be used against rioters.

What could go wrong?

Suddenly-blinded angry people freak out in front of twitchy riot cops. Peace and tranquility will certainly follow.