Pork-n-Sauerkraut for Good Luck
New Year’s can be tricky. Tossing out a calendar triggers us into assessing where we are vs where we want to be. And that can lead to self-loathing and angst. Did I lose those love handles? Did I step back from that toxic relationship? Why can I still not make a cheesecake without cracks?
New Year’s Eve can be especially hard. There’s a lot of pressure to have a wild and crazy time. And even worse than possibly Valentine’s Day, the Eve can make uncoupled folks feel especially lonely.
When my husband and I were younger we certainly partook in the revelry. A friend hosted the best parties complete with live music, a smoky bar, slot machines, and servers schlepping crab puffs! Squeeze in a last call and we’d get home at a time I’m nowadays in REM sleep.
Today’s youngins have the added layer of making a post-worthy night. Because somehow, we’ve made our online presence the arbiter of our popularity. And ultimately, our worth.
But with age comes wisdom. I’ve come to realize it’s just another night in the continuum of life. The next Eve will roll around soon enough. Whether we partied hearty, reached our goals, ran a marathon, or not.
So it is that one of my favorite New Year’s Eves was during COVID. We purposely spent the night alone. Fell asleep on the couch, woke up long enough to watch the countdown, and then went to bed. It was glorious! I lay there ruminating about all that’s good in my life while fireworks went off in the distance.
I remember a few Eve parties we threw ourselves. Moderate affairs of maybe 60 people max. But they were daunting. It’s a challenging night to entertain because you gotta keep the energy pumping until at least 12:01 a.m. Other favorites were the Eves we spent with close friends playing board games in our pajamas.
But the Eve I remember most fondly was the year of the microwave. It’s become a legend told (and exaggerated) time and again. We had organized dinner out for 20 friends. But our booking was way too early. Back at our place yawning ensued. Time for imbibing had passed. So…we set the microwave timer for 11:00 p.m., counted down as if it was midnight, hugs and kisses, then bu-bye.
The bottom line is I could skip December 31. I’ve always liked New Year’s Day more. Drinking in the Christmas decorations one last time, the Rose Parade, and football. All with the luscious smell of pork and sauerkraut simmering in the crockpot.
Being from Pennsylvania, eating this dish is considered good luck in the year to come. Purists will tell you it has to be very plain, just pork and just kraut. Some will even go so far as to say it has to be the first thing you eat on January 1.
Me? I like to infuse more flavors. Which is why I’m sharing my version. You’ll notice the measurements and amounts are very approximate, a departure from most recipes. But I want you to guesstimate based on YOUR preferences. You can do it. It’s the new cooking you in 2024!
Let’s get started, shall we?
STEPS
- In the bottom of a crockpot, layer 1 onion, thinly sliced, and 1 or 2 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into small wedges.
- Top with a bone-in pork butt or shoulder roast. Season with salt, pepper, and some caraway seeds. Top and surround with bagged sauerkraut.
- Gently pour in 1 to 2 cups chicken broth and 1 cup dry white wine or a light beer.
- Cook for 10 hours on low until the meat is fork tender. Remove the bone. Drain and platter chunks of the pork surrounded by the sauerkraut, onions, etc. And enjoy your good luck!
TIPS
• Don’t pick a cut of pork without the bone. The bone adds a lot of favor.
• Avoid cheap sauerkraut in the can. Get the really good stuff in a bag. Or better yet, locally fresh-made.
• Prep the day before and cook early for an evening dinner. Or as we often do, plug it in before bed to eat around noon...the aroma wafting into the bedroom is heaven.
• In the last hour, feel free to nestle in some hotdogs or Polish kielbasa. They’ll be a hit with children, and they add a hint of smokey flavor throughout.
• Tradition says serve this with mashed potatoes, buttered corn, and potato rolls such as Martins. Yes, that’s a lot of carbs. Start your diet January 2. ▼
Ed and his husband Jerry split their time between homes near Harrisburg Pennsylvania and Bethany Beach. Ed builds websites to pay the bills but loves to cook, garden, hike, and dote on their dog Atticus. Recipe requests and feedback welcome: ed@seasalttable.com.