Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Sauerkraut

My great grandparents were poor, I mean really poor. They raised 9 children who grew up almost entirely on sauerkraut. A few years ago, I went to the house where they lived in Pennsylvania. There was a chute from the outside into the basement. A couple of times a year the farmer would bring his truck to the house and via the chute would fill a room in the basement up with cabbage. The cabbage was then shredded by great grandmother and she would turn most of it into sauerkraut.

On my visit, I took the photo seen below. It now hangs in my kitchen. It is of at least 60 year old canned goods. Note the sauerkraut on the left.













Three points to this story:

(1) Even if you are poor, you can probably afford cabbage and then you can use it to make your own sauerkraut
(2) If you are with me and you order sauerkraut I will probably think you are cool.
(3) I love sauerkraut

12 comments:

Queen B said...

1. Very cool story

2. Wow, I saw the picture in your kitchen but didn't ask

3. This is all it takes to impress the Champ? Sign me up for some 'kraut!

Ann said...

That's a very cool story. I don't like sauerkraut, but would try it again if you were with me.

Andrea said...

My favorite sandwich is a Reuben...with (you guessed it!) sauerkraut.

My dad's parents were also very poor. They raised seven kids on a farm in Arkansas. But every one of them has an incredible work ethic-silver linings!

Andrea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andrea said...

By the way, love the picture!

Jane said...

A great side dish too :)

alisa said...

what a great story!! and i love that you took a picture and have it up - what nice way to remember your grandparents. (i was really close to my grandparents too, so this stuff just give me warm fuzzies!)


:)

Jinjer said...

That's a great story! We will, however, have to find another way for me to impress you, as I will not be ordering Sauerkraut anytime soon!!

Paula said...

My Grandpa Rand, when he was young and poor (especially during the Depression), he and his brothers would pick tons of potatoes at his uncle's farm. They stored them in the basement and that is what they ate. Every day. Potatoes. Potatoes. Potatoes.

M said...

I'm a recent fan of the stuff. But I don't think I'd be down with eating some that was hitting 60.

Jenn Ann said...

Very cool story. Not a fan the last time I tried it, but that was back when I didn't like tomatoes. I'll try it again during Oktoberfest.

Bianka said...

Sauerkraut with a bratwurst on a kaiser roll...... heaven.