True Facts about Sauerkraut

• Sauerkraut originated approximately 2,000 years ago in China, where it is known as suan cai, with a literal translation of “sour vegetable”.
• It wasn't until 1,000 years later that Genghis Khan plundered China and brought back this recipe for naturally fermented cabbage.
  
  
  
• The Germans, who gave it the name "sauerkraut", learned to make this dish from their native European cabbage, giving us sauerkraut as we know it today.
• In World War I and II, the slang word “kraut” was used to refer to sailors and ultimately all German soldiers because of a long history of German ships being outfitted with sauerkraut as part of daily food rations to prevent the onset of scurvy. 

• Sauerkraut has been used in Europe for centuries to treat stomach ulcers, and its effectiveness for soothing the digestive tract has been well established by numerous studies.
• According to Per Pickle Packers International, Americans consume 387 million pounds of sauerkraut annually, or about 1.25 pounds per person.
• Most people immediately think to buy their sauerkraut in a jar, but for the most basic sauerkraut, all your need to make your own sauerkraut is 1 medium head green cabbage (about 3 pounds) and 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
• Sauerkraut is made by a process called lacto-fermentation.
• Lactobacillus is a type of beneficial bacteria present on the surface of the cabbage, which is the same bacteria found in yogurt. 
• When submerged in a brine, the bacteria begin to convert sugars in the cabbage into lactic acid; this is a natural preservative that inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria.
• Plain sauerkraut is (to most people) not very tasty, but if you doctor it up with bacon, onions and some wine, it is delicious!
• Plain sauerkraut is fat free!
• There are hundreds of ways to use sauerkraut, but our favorite is the ruben sandwich and sauerkraut soup!

Sources:

http://www.sauerkraut.com

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-easy-homemade-sauerkraut-in-a-mason-jar-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-193124

http://www.bubbies.com/sauerkraut

https://www.ilovepickles.org/node/221

Restaurant Review: Stony Run Inn and Grill - Kempton, PA

Today is a special treat! A guest post about a German Restaurant that I probably won't have the chance to try, but luckily my friend Heidi wrote a review. Enjoy!

Hi, I'm Heidi Kelly of HKelly designs and I live in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, so I guess it is no surprise that we found a very nice German/Austrian restaurant just miles from home. Stony Run Inn and Grill http://www.stonyruninn.com/

At first, I wasn't so sure about going, when I think of german food I think about saurkraut and heavy food and I am a picky eater, but my husband convinced me. 

Well I opened up the menu and the first thing I look at is the drink menu and I was beyond excited to see many champagne drinks!! I don't drink beer, but I am a sucker for champagne! Besides drinks the food selection was great, there were even some American meals in case someone wasn't into the German food.







My husband and I decided to go authentic. We ordered appetizers he had a cabbage soup and I had scallops wrapped in bacon. The appetizers were the perfect size. Then we ordered our meals, I had the pork schnitzel and he had saurbraten, he also had the German beer, Warsteiner. 

All in all, one of the best meals I have had in this area! The wait staff was amazing and super knowledgeable! The owner, chef even came out to talk to us! Our waiter, I think was a part time actor, had a great German accent when he wanted to and we had a great time. We ended the night with a German coffee for my husband and we split a raspberry chocolate cake! If you ever find yourself in Pennsylvania Dutch Country near Kutztown, PA this restaurant should be on your list!

My husband and I decided to go authentic. We ordered appetizers he had a cabbage soup and I had scallops wrapped in bacon. The appetizers were the perfect size. Then we ordered our meals, I had the pork version of weinerschnitzel and he had saurbraten, he also had a German beer Warsteiner. All in all, one of the best meals I have had in this area! The wait staff was amazing and super knowledgeable! The owner, chef even came out to talk to us! Our waiter, I think was a part time actor, had a great German accent when he wanted to and we had a great time. We ended the night with a German coffee for my husband and we split a raspberry chocolate cake! If you ever find yourself in Pennsylvania Dutch Country near Kutztown, PA this restaurant should be on your list!

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