Sauerkraut with Kielbasa and Apples

For years the only way I thought people ate Sauerkraut was to dump out a can and add chopped hotdogs ... real yummy sounding huh.  Here is a more grown up version that is almost just as simple but oh so delicious. Gone is the sour taste you normally get with just plain sauerkraut; the apples and brown sugar really do make this meal sing!
For those of you who are skeptical just give it a shot, Jeff nearly did cartwheels when i told him we were having this for dinner last night (not sure he realizes it's cabbage we are eating though ... I guess I won't burst his bubble)

Sauerkraut with Kielbasa and Apples

serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp butter
• 2 lb package Sauerkraut (you can usually find these over by the hotdogs)
• 3 apples (one Granny Smith and two not so bitter, like Gala)
• 1 1/2 - 2 lbs Kielbasa sausage (important to find the kielbasa and not use regular sausage)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

1. Cook up the sausage links in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat till done, flipping occasionally. Slice up cooked sausage and throw back in pan if still pink in the middle (can you tell this has happened to me several times?)

2. Place a very large skillet (bonus points if its cast iron) on the stove and turn heat to medium. Peel, core, and dice apples.  Put butter in pan and pour apples and sauerkraut on top, mixing well. Let simmer 10 minutes until apples have softened, stirring frequently.

3. Add brown sugar to sauerkraut mixture and mix well, add sausage and cook another 5 minutes.

4. Serve with rolls if you have some around, or just gobble it up as is!

Spiked Ketchup

I was reading about the South Beach Wine and Food Festival recently and started drooling at the burger that won first place.  The sauce on it seemed so crazy that I had to try it.
Woah, talk about really making your burger delicious, I mean REALLY delicious!  Funny thing was that we tasted it just by itself & it was just ok, but then on the burger with the flavor of the meat it just popped!  Next time my friends come eat at my house I am spiking their ketchup! ...muhahahaha....

Spiked Ketchup

created by Marc Murphy

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
• 1 1/2 tsp roasted garlic, minced (see quick tip below)
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 5 Tbsp Vodka

Mix everything together and serve on a yummy hamburger! 

*roasted garlic can take a while in the oven, for a faster method take 3-4 cloves unpeeled garlic and toss in a heated skillet with a little olive oil over medium heat. Cook till they turn golden, stirring often. Peel skins and smash.

I stored leftovers in a baby food jar I swiped from my sister's house.