My phone rings and the sweetest familiar baby turned grown up voice says, “Mommy I need you!” How is it that at least ten thoughts can run 
through your head in what is only in reality a two second pause? I won’t even go into my thoughts but let’s just say I imagined something terrible has happened and my baby needs me.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“How do you cook your Kielbasa and sauerkraut?
Relief beyond belief turned into elation and laughter within a half second after his question registered the you-don’t-need-to-panic zone. The human mind is spectacular in it’s recovery time for me anyway. And then I found myself exuding this strange pride listening to my 19-year-old that attends Ohio State University all the way in the far off land of Columbus, Ohio tell me he is cooking for a few friends and calling me, the cook
with a simple cause and nobody more than a mother and asking for instructions on how to pull off a 10-minute meal using Kielbasa which is a great choice for beginners (good job my boy). So, I’m smiling today because once again, I just received a sweet little return on my investment from my college boy. He listened! YAY! Now that’s something people! If you’ve never been to this college town let me be the first to tell you there’s a food establishment about every three to four steps surrounding the university and he has this little Buckeye card that allows him to purchase food without a thought of whether or not he can afford it and he chooses to cook a quick and might I add, cheap meal. Love him!
His request for my recipe is really not a surprise. It is the perfect hearty meal if you’re into something quick, savory, filling and tasty. Wait, I think I’m into that every night. Anyway, I hadn’t even thought about this dish in such a long time until he called. I used to make it with mashed potatoes and mix it together with each bite to combine the tartness of the kraut and the blandness of the potatoes. But tonight’s meal I skipped the mashed potatoes and opted for something a little quicker. I pulled some frozen hash browns from my convenient freezer box and fried those up while the Kielbasa and sauerkraut cooked away. It is simple but I’m thinking either you might’ve forgotten this idea for a family meal or maybe you’ve never even tried it. A college kid calling home for the recipe should attest to it’s goodness.
With one holiday down and another to prepare for, the contrast of flavors and the extra time this meal affords me are all welcomed like a big fat warm hug.
1 jar of sauerkraut
1 pkg. kielbasa cut in 4 inch sections
1 T. smoked paprika
1 tsp. red pepper
In a large stock pan empty all the ingredients, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes on medium high heat.
Serve with mashed potatoes or fried hash browns.
Kielbasa & Sauerkraut
By Published: November 30, 2010
- Yield: 4 Servings
- Prep: 10 mins
t is the perfect hearty meal if you’re into something quick, savory, filling and tasty.
Ingredients
- 1 jar sauerkraut
- 1 pkg. kielbasa cut in 4 inch sections
- 1 T. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/2 pkg. frozen hash brown potatoes the cubed kind
Instructions
- In a large stock pan empty all the ingredients, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes on medium high heat.
