Recipe #104: Sauerkraut & Ham Soup

By Susan Pagani, Communications Director

We recently received this very kind note from a client:

Hi all, You are all angels.   I am wondering if you can send me the recipe for the ham & sauerkraut soup you so deliciously prepare.  It is so close to my slovenian grandmothers I would not be able to tell them apart.   I would appreciate it very much if you would send me the recipe. Thanks!

We are so happy to oblige. As is sometimes the case with homemade meals, we don't have a recipe for the soup, which was created on the spur of the moment, using the ingredients at hand. However, our chefs say the following recipe is as close as it gets!

What makes this soup special is the milk, which combines with the salty ham to provide a deliciously creamy foil to the sauerkraut. Yum.  

Sauerkraut & Ham Soup
(Serves 4-6)


1 pound ham, finely diced
6 tbsp. chopped onion
6 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups half-and-half
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 (8 ounce) can sauerkraut, undrained


1. Cook and stir ham and onion in a large saucepan over low heat until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
2. Stir in flour to coat the sausage and onion. Gradually stir in milk, followed by half-and-half. Raise heat to medium, and simmer the soup until thick, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in thyme. Mix sauerkraut and its juice into the soup and cook just until sauerkraut is heated through, 1 to 2 more minutes.

Recipe #103: Texas Caviar

By Lana Hogan, Dietetic Intern from the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview

Typically I get reactions of confusion, disappointment and disgust when I say I am bringing Texas Caviar as my dish to pass at a party. Who brings caviar to a party? However, once people understand it is not made from fish eggs, the dish becomes an instant hit. My mother is a wonderful cook and this is one of her most requested recipes to pass at gatherings and when all three of her daughters are home.

Texas Caviar is a tasty and addicting bean dish (excellent source of fiber!) that pairs great with tortilla chips or on top of salads, chicken or fish. Preparation involves a lot of chopping and draining, however, it is definitely worth the work. The recipe makes a good portion and will have you coming back for more -- until it’s gone. 

Texas Caviar 

Ingredients:

1 can blackeyed peas, drained

1 can pinto beans, drained

1 small jar chopped pimentos, drained

1 small onion, chopped

1 cup celery, chopped

1 cup green pepper, chopped

1 cup shoepeg corn (white corn)

1 to 2 tbsp. of chopped jalapeno pepper 

Optional: 1 can black beans, drained

Dressing:

1 tsp. salt 

1 tbsp. water

1/2 cup oil

1/2 tsp. pepper

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup sugar                    

Directions:

Boil dressing and cool.  Next, pour cooled dressing over bean mixture and marinate.  Drain when ready to serve.  

Recipe #102: Morning Muffins

This recipe was adapted for the Open Arms kitchen by Sara, baker extraordinaire and muffin boss. We love them because they are full of delicious goodies and unbelievably moist. 

Although the name implies breakfast, we think they are lovely in the late afternoon -- when energy flags -- with a large cup of coffee and a cat. If you don't have a cat, a blanket and a novel will do.

Morning Muffins

(Serves 24)

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 cups sugar
3 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs
3/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups grated carrots
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and then:
1. In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. 

2. In another bowl, combine the eggs, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Stir in carrots, pineapple, coconut, raisins and nuts.
3. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. 

Recipe #101: Carnitas Verde

By Nathaniel Tietge, Volunteer

One of the great pleasures of winter is eating up the extra calories our bodies need just to cope with the weather! One of my favorite dishes is enchiladas. This recipe is not the quickest, so it also makes a good activity for those who truly love to cook -- and for when the hostile weather renders indoor activities ideal.

To make this a really intensive project, you can make your own refried beans as well. This dish can easily be made vegetarian by using three pounds of cooked black beans and onions with the same seasonings. Enjoy! 

Carnitas Verde

Meat 

3 lbs. pork shoulder roast (aka ‘Boston Butt’)
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
2 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tbsp. garlic powder
4 jalapenos
1 cup sunflower oil
1 – 2 qt. of flavorful liquid 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and then:

1. In a large roasting pan, cover the meat evenly with the oil, using all of it. There will be excess oil; leaveit in the pan. Evenly season the meat using the dry spices and turn the meat in the pan so the fattiest part is facing upwards. 

2. Add your flavorful liquid to the pan, using enough to reach about half-way up the height of the meat. Typically, one quart will do for a standard pyrex pan. For flavorful liquid you can use a dry white wine, stock of your choice or even vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:3. If using something with added salt, be mindful of that fact. 

3. Add the jalapenos whole to the pan, and then cover and cook the pork until the meat is fork tender. Times will vary, but it usually takes about 2 hours. Worst case scenario: You can cool and chop the meat if time is an issue. In the end you will want this shredded for stuffing the tortillas. 

Do not discard the cooking liquid! Reserve for later use. Meanwhile, lets start the sauce!

Verde Sauce

1 qt. tomatillos, canned or otherwise cooked
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. cilantro, puree’d
1 tbsp. cumin
4 tsp. garlic powder
1 large white or yellow onion, diced medium
4 large, mild chilies, diced medium (use anaheim, banana or even bell peppers)

1. In a large sauce pot combine everything except the onions and chilies. Heat on medium and keep it hot. 

2. In another pan, lightly sauté the onions and chilies until cooked but avoid cooking them to the point where they develop color. If you have some of your flavorful liquid hanging around, you can give the pan a quick deglaze before adding the vegetables to the sauce pot. 

3. Now that you have all of the ingredients together, use a wand mixer (preferred) or blender, and process all of the ingredients until smooth. Return the blended liquid to the sauce pan. Adjust salt to taste. At this point it should be slightly thicker than we want it. Let it simmer in the sauce pot for at least an hour.
4. When the roast comes out of the oven, remove the meat from the pan and allow to rest/cool enough to handle for shredding. Add the jalapenos from the roasting pan to the sauce removing only the inedible stems. Reduce the juice from the roasting pan by half in a large skillet or pot and add it to the sauce. Use your best judgment as you do this, watching for the right consistency. It should be smooth and about as thick as a pea soup. 

5. This next step is crucial, and it works best with a wand mixer. After the roasting juice and peppers have been added, blend the sauce again. The oil you added in the initial step of roasting the pork not only kept the meat moist, but also captured the flavors of all the spices and will now ‘fluff’ up the texture of your verde creating a very full and finished flavor.

Assembly 

12 10-inch flour tortillas
1 16-oz. can of refried beans
1 lb. shredded cheese 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and then:

1. At this point you have a pile of shredded pork, a pile of shredded cheese, a delicious sauce, and an open can of refried beans. Spread about one tablespoon of beans, a small amount of cheese and three ounces of pork on a tortilla. 

2. Fold the edges in, roll and place in a baking dish that has been prepped with a thin layer of your verde sauce. Repeat until you have filled up the dish (or two). Cover with liberal amounts of sauce, top with cheese, and bake for 20 minutes.