Slow-Cooker German Pork Chops (dairy- and gluten-free)

I keep hearing that I need to start posting recipes again, but I just haven’t been super creative in the kitchen lately. This is something I tried last week, though, and got rave reviews (aka seconds and thirds) from every. single. person. in the house — which never EVER happens!

I found the original version (a sort of casserole for the oven) in one of the Mennonite cookbooks (I think in More With Less).  Tommy and the kids were okay with it, but I really hate pork chops because of their texture. The original (casserole) version yields a pork chop that requires cutting into pieces (eew — too chewy for me!), but the crockpot version I made last week yields a tender, shredded meat and juices that sit really well on a bed of mashed potatoes with a side of sauteed broccoli.

Also, I just sort of threw in whatever I had, so the measurements are approximate and could easily be adjusted to whatever you happen to have on hand. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

 

Slow-Cooker German Pork Chops

5 small (but thick-cut) boneless pork chops

1 cup sauerkraut with a little juice

1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp brown sugar

Seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, garlic salt, caraway seed

 

Cook on low 6-8 hours, then serve with mashed potatoes and a vegetable side.

 

Something else you could try — this was Tommy’s suggestion — is to add some kind of thickener and make a gravy out of the juices.  It was great just like this, but we may try that next time, since Tommy has a huge obsession with gravy. If you try it first, let me know how it works out!

Pictures from the last month or so…

These are the highlights…of course, if I would just remember to use the camera more often, then I’d have more to choose from. But enjoy these!

Here is Dresden on Valentine’s Day after decorating her cupcake.

And here she is again playing games with her sight words.

I guess we spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Here’s Simon inside a fire truck on a recent field trip:

And here is evidence of our pitiful dearth of masculine dress-up clothes. (I’ve got some sewing project ideas that will remedy this!)

And how do I have so few pictures of our precious, now 13-month old flower? Here she is looking messy after eating some granola and yogurt.