New Years Good Luck Foods

Food was the first art medium I was exposed to. Back then I did not know it and would never have considered it art or a medium to create art. My parents were practical and skills told were the ones most useful to their business, which was a traditional German pub or Wirtschaft. Their fairs were hearty German dishes and drinks.  The month and weeks before the holidays we would help my mother decorate eggs, make cookies, and other foods gifted and served to our customers. Of course, sauerkraut was among those foods. I did not understand the significance of cooking that food back in those days. I just knew they would be served around certain holidays and I figured it was because it was an easy food to cook for large crowds of people.

Only after living in the USA did I learn that sauerkraut and pork are considered a traditional good luck dish served on New Year’s Day in many households. Some make claims that it goes back to idioms used referring to the abundance of strings in sauerkraut. Something perhaps like; “ may your fortune be as abundant as the strings in sauerkraut” I can totally hear me come up with something like this to the amusement of my family and friends. I have been known to butcher up idioms and sayings which end up having their own quirky meanings. 

Anything that promises a good year ahead is a winner to me. I do not really care who started the tradition or rumor.  It’s all in good fun and delicious!!!

 It makes sense that food would be considered good luck. After all, if you run out of food I don’t think you would consider yourself very lucky. Sauerkraut which is made from cabbage was easy to store and keep well into the winter month. It also comes with many health benefits much needed during the cold winter. It certainly is a welcome change to our digestive systems after eating heavy meals and way too much sugar after the holidays. It’s kind of a digestive rescue food launching us into the New Year on a good note. 

After the last two years living with this pandemic, I would love if everyone gets the word out to cook, bake and drink their traditional lucky foods this New Years Day. Be a little extra this year if it has not been a tradition for you so far, consider starting one. If sauerkraut is not your thing, don’t worry. Almost every country has traditional good luck food. 

Here is my favored recipe:

Sauerkraut with a Twist

2 LB bag of Sauerkraut (I use Kissling’s) drained and rinsed

2 bottles of Lager bier

1 large onion, finely sliced or chopped

1/2 pound cubed bacon

1 medium bay leave

1/2 caraway seeds or powder

3 juniper berries

3 whole cloves

Pepper and salt to taste

I use a 9X13 baking dish or my dutch oven, depending on if I make one recipe or double the one above. 

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. To be reduced to 300 after reaching the desired color and tenderness. 

1. Take the cubed bacon and put it into a large pan. Let the bacon brown.
2. Add the finely sliced/chopped onion brown until golden
3. Add rinsed and drained sauerkraut, spices, and bier
4. Bake in the oven for about 1 hr, checking from time to time add water if needed
5. Add pepper and salt to taste
6. Cover one’s sauerkraut has a beautiful golden brown color
7. Lower temperature to keep sauerkraut warm until serving

Note:  You can place sausages on top of the sauerkraut 30 minutes before serving to add more flavor. Sauerkraut can be made ahead and gets better. 

Enjoy

May the New Year bring you good luck, health, and happiness 

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