But I too would have wanted to give it away.

to this day I cannot stand the smell let alone the taste of sauerkraut.

I love sauerkraut now, but not then.
And by the way, it's Trish's sauerkraut in the photos. I think it's pretty too. I don't always put carrots in mine but I do love to use different colors of cabbage.

I have to go finish up my chicken for the traditional Christmas Eve Chicken and dumplings, although it is what some call chicken and slicks.

I will have plenty of broth for a lot of dumplings or slicks.

This story had me laughing til tears ran down my face When I was a little girl, I hated sauerkraut and now, like you, I love it. And all colors of cabbage too!

We have kielbasa and sauerkraut at least once a month and New Years Day, we always have cabbage rolls with extra sauerkraut tucked in around the rolls. I buy bavarian sauerkraut and add caraway seeds and a little brown sugar to it.

Salads aren't just lettuce, chopped up cabbage in there too - purple as well as the green.

I did have crocks many years ago and "this close" to making sauerkraut but didn't - Pfft - I now wish I did.

Beautiful cabbage Trish!

Still laughing at that little girl that got rid of the cabbage at Christmas

Vic, I remembered the sauerkraut story when I decided to make something out of those leather coats. Reminded me of Ninna and the way she always gave 'needful things', things she'd made. I was really thinking of the quilts she made out of my outgrown clothes and gave away, but then I remembered that she called her jams and jellies needful, too . . . all of which led to the sauerkraut saga. I hadn't thought of that in a long time, glad you laughed your way through it. It sure wasn't funny back in the day.

Funny that you got in trouble, absolutely not -

But watching that little girl bound and determined she was going to get rid of that yucky stuff -

My mom was the same - Christmas gifts were made in the kitchen, at the sewing machine, or with knitting needles - and they were all just beautiful and much better made than what could be purchased at a store, like your backpack, totes, etc.

I had one of those stompers at one time. Haven't seen it in years. Do have a kraut cutter with 3 blades. Run a half cabbage through that, making the slicing job easy. Hubby could make another stomper with some kind of hardwood. Meanwhile, we have used a stainless steel potato masher that does the job ok.

I didn't inherit the kraut cutter, Mary. I don't think they trusted me with it, but I do remember it. It's been a few years since I made kraut, but I've used the potato masher too. My crock that I now have is very small so I don't make very much when I make it, but I'm the only one who eats it, so I don't need very much.

What a great story, Sharon. I love sauerkraut and don't remember ever disliking it, but it probably wasn't one of my favorites growing up.

Beautiful colors in the kraut, Trish.

Thanks Jean!
Merry Christmas.

I just happened to think of this. My cousin had frequent problems with canker sores. My stepfather told him to eat 1/2 a can of sauerkraut morning and night for 3 days. He was so miserable he did it and the sores went away. This kid would always be "sick" at dinner time, but miraculously recover when it was time for dessert, so eating any vegetable was a real desperation move for him.

Good to know that, Mary.
Amazing what some foods will do for us, isn't it?

I always loved sauerkraut. My mom's was the best, and my favorite recipe was her sauerkraut with ribs and dumplings. I think I'm drooling now.
When the children were still home I used to make sauerkraut and my own corned beef (or goat).
Now I am hungry.

I love reading this memory story from you childhood Sharon. I always feel like I am right there watching it all unfold.

Thanks Lynn! Happy memories.

I still run away from any kind of cabbages but i do remember the quilts made out of little six sided of fabric from old clothes.
Regards,
Arif.

love this story.It stirred up memories of my grandmothers 60 gallon crock in the basement.I still have it as a planter next to the garage.

I hated sauerkraut growing up but I love it now.

Our family's favorite kraut story was when my grandmother inadvertently put kraut juice instead of scuppernong wine on her fruitcake. She immediately realized her mistake and soaked as much of it as she could from the fruitcake. She then put a very generous amount of the wine on the cake and didn't tell anyone about the mistake (until the cake was gone), but everyone said it was the best fruitcake ever!

Great save.

I still have some of those quilts, Arif. They are a little fragile now, but they still hold pieces of memories.

I haven't made sauerkraut in a few years, Jo, and I'm really tempted to use my crock for a planter too, but sure as I do, I'd suddenly have this massive desire for sauerkraut again. Last time I used a wide mouth gallon jug anyway, but seems like it tastes better from the crock.

Ha Dave! Bet you would have helped me load up all those Mason fruit jars into the brown paper bags just to get rid of them, too. I still say that giveaway sauerkraut was a needful thing.

Too funny, Jean! I can't even imagine, maybe it was the double fermentation that flavored it so well.

I've never added onions to kraut, but looking at Trish's pictures makes me think I want to try it. I've used green and red peppers, sometimes yellow, carrots and various cabbages, but never onions. Not sure now why that is.

Y'all have a real good Christmas Eve.