Saturday, January 9, 2010

Freezer Finds

What can you do with bratwurst?  I mean other than boiling it in beer and grilling it?  I found at least 3 packages deep within the freezer.  All were bought on sale at one time or another this past year. While we are waiting for the trailer to sell we are trying to use up what we can.  The freezer is still half full so there's a chance that I may have to bring the canner back from storage.

We had a huge pork loin in there that Mars smoked on the pit a few days ago.  It came out sooo nice!  Needless to say we have been eating pork dishes for a few days. Of course, we have had sliced pork loin with a variety of vegetables.  Chopped pork and egg tacos too.  It's made a few really good sandwiches as well.  Tomorrow I plan on using the last of it for Carne Guisada .(with pork of course)
 
Now back to the question.  What can you actually DO with bratwurst?  I love www.allrecipes.com. They have a cool ingredient search engine.  Put in some of the ingredients you want and/or the ones you don't.  I came up with a Bratwurst soup that sounded ok and had some good reviews. I thought I would share it as it turned out really good.  Mind you I almost always just wing following a recipe depending on what I have on hand.

                 Bratwurst, Potato, Cabbage Soup
  • 16 ounces bratwurst, casings removed
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 medium head cabbage, chopped
  • 3 cups milk, divided
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 ounces Swiss cheese, diced

Directions

  1. In a large skillet over medium high heat, saute the sausage for 10 minutes, or until browned and crumbled. Drain well and discard the fat.
  2. In a large pot over high heat, combine the browned sausage, potatoes, onion and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the cabbage, return to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for another 20 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups of the milk and heat slowly to just under a boil. (Note: Don't try to do this too fast, or the milk will burn on the bottom of the pot.)
  3. In a separate small bowl, mix the flour with the remaining milk, and add to the pot slowly, stirring constantly, so that the flour does not clump. (Note: Make sure you get out all the lumps because they will not cook out on their own.)
  4. When the mixture in the pot thickens, add the cheese and stir off and on until the cheese has melted.
 After reading some of the reviews, I added some garlic, Tonys,  fresh cracked black pepper.  I didn't have swiss cheese so I used cheddar instead. I also was out of onions and so I used some of my dried ones.  I have to say it turned out really good.  I will definitely make this one again!

I have been trying to pull out all the stuff that wasn't sealed with the FoodSaver first.

I wonder what else is down at the bottom of that freezer?  I found two packages of venison I didn't realize we still had. There's some fake crab meat in there too.  I found that we have way more blackeyed peas than I first thought.  It's almost like a treasure hunt!!

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10 comments:

  1. My own recipe;

    4or5 brats sliced on a diagonal about an inch long.

    3 medium Zucchini sliced 1/4 to 3/8 inches thick

    2 yellow summer squash sliced as the zucchini

    1 medium green pepper sliced 1/4 inch thick length wise

    1 medium red pepper sliced like the green pepper

    a couple of jalapenos sliced I leave the seed in the dish

    1 medium yellow onion sliced 1/4 inch thick

    Sear the brats and onions, add the veggies and cook till color brightens yet still crisp. If you want to get crazy wild, put it on a bed of brown rice, and call it health food. ;-)

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  2. I'm sorry, I forgot to mention I cook it in a large frying pan and use enough olive oil to suit my personal taste. very simple, and pretty darned tasty.

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  3. Oh, AKA ...you have a winner there for Sci. She loves squash!

    Both recipes sound good. I like to sear my brats with potatoes and onions, then put a lid on and simmer slow until the potatoes are soft. No brats in the house. Will have to make do with the stew simmering on the stove. : )

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  4. yummy - brats! and both recipes have been copied and printed - so thanks ladies! also, WWRWH - thats the way i normally do my brats too - love 'em like that!

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  5. Yummm.... Thanks for the recipes guys. They sound wonderful.

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  6. I place brats, potatoes, sliced onion and a can of sauerkraut in my #9 cast iron fry pan. Add a tiny bit of water, cover and let simmer til done.

    Another idea: cut brats on the diagonal while still slightly frozen. Place them in a cast iron pan with chopped onion and saute until sausage is browned but not dry. Add 1-2 cans kidney or pinto beans, two bean cans of water, a can of tomatoe sauce, 3/4 cup uncooked rice, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. garlic powder. Cover and let simmer until rice is done.

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  7. SFC, wanted to thank you for visiting and joining "Happy Days". Appreciate your reading and hope you enjoy it. As for Brats, we love Brats and buy all kinds and put them in all kinds of dishes. Will write down your recipe and try it the next time I buy some. AWMan, I do a recipe pretty close to yours. I just throw what ever I have that I think sounds good with them. I like to have fried apples or applesauce with what ever I mix them with. We like them with eggs too. I read you live in Texas. I lived in Houston, San Antonio and Midland while growing up. Lived in Midland the longest. (10 years) Now
    reside in West Virginia (God's Country) Where will you be off too? Just driving until you find a neat spot? Sounds like fun. Might try West Virginia - it's beautiful, and friendly!! Thanks again for visiting...debbie

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  8. I never ate bratwurst until a few years ago and had no idea how to do anything other than grill it. Thank you all for your tips and tricks. I now have a means to dispose of said bratwurst in a few yummy ways!
    Debbie, stop by any time!
    You guys Rock!

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  9. Hi SFC! I *finally* went back to day 1 of your blog and read it straight through. I enjoyed it immensely. I can't watch video at the RV park where I live so I didn't get to watch your videos. Frustrating - this is internet that I pay for monthly thru the park and it burns me up - but I have few complaints about this place so I can live with it.

    When are you guys going on the road? I can't wait for updates!

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  10. Ginger I have to admire anyone who could read straight thru all my "stuff" Thank you and I feel honored that you took the time. We sell the trailer and then will just let the powers that be take us where we are supposed to be. We are putting it all on the line here and the funny thing is....I'm not scared. Nervous yes, but not scared.
    We might have a buyer but will know more in the next two days as he is filing for a loan. I'll be sure to keep ya posted.

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