Slow Cooker Kielbasa

If you have ever been to a social gathering at my house, this may surprise you. I typically plan parties down to the minute so everything is done before the guests get to my house so I can enjoy without running around the kitchen or grill like a psycho. My plan is to have everything set and ready and be enjoying a bit of wine before they come in my calm cool and collected place.  That being said, it rarely (and by rarely I mean never) works out that way.

You see, I plan for weeks but inevitably at the grocery store, something comes over me and I throw my plan out the window and start over - usually on the day of the gathering because something always comes up the day before when I meant to shop.

So when my guests arrive, I'm usually frantically racing around the kitchen, not ready and tweaking the brilliant plan that came to me two hours before wondering WHY I didn't stick with the original plan.

This dish is one that you theoretically could stick in your slow cooker and truly have ready when your company arrives. One day, I'd like to have a party where everything is ready including me and I'm calmly sipping a glass of wine when my guests arrive. I'm totally going to make that my resolution for 2013. See how organized I am? Already looking to the new year....

Slow Cooker Kielbasa
Recipe slightly adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

12 ozs sauerkraut
1 lb polska kielbasa - I used turkey kielbasa which had a much lower fat content and no one knew!
6 ozs ale style beer
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 vidalia onion, sliced
Buns, mustard and toppings

1. Rinse sauerkraut. This is key. Otherwise it is, well, sour (sauer?) and kind of overpowering. Pour into slow cooker and top with kielbasa.
2. In small bowl, combine beer, brown sugar and red pepper flakes and pour over kielbasa.
3. Cook on low 6-7 hours.
4. Add onions and turn cooker up to high and cook another 30 minutes to one hour.
5. Serve on buns with toppings.

Enjoy!