Choucroute Ann

• 1/4 lb. natural bacon, chopped in bits
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 head garlic, sliced
• 1 large spanish onion, or 8 small cippolini onions
• 1/4 cup ver jus
• 2 tbsps apple cider vinegar
• 1 liter dry white wine (preferably a cheap alsatian riesling)
• 1 head cabbage, finely sliced
• 1 spaghetti squash
• 1 1/2 - 2lbs smoked pork loin
• dried or fresh thyme to taste
• salt & pepper to taste

1. --> heat your oven to 400degrees
2. * quarter spaghetti squash, scoop out seeds, place on a silpat on a baking sheet
3. * bake in oven until tender (approx 20 minutes)
4. --> in a large, heavy bottom dutch oven render the bacon until crispy
5. * set bacon aside to drain on a plate lined with paper towels
6. * add olive oil to bacon fat
7. * add garlic and onions
8. * cook apprx 20 minutes or until caramelized, add salt and pepper to taste
9. * add ver jus and vinegar
10. cook until evaporated
11. * add about 1 cup of the wine
12. cook until evaporated
13. * add the finely sliced cabbage stir to coat, add salt & pepper to taste
14. * add enough white wine to cover (you can add more wine as it evaporates at any time)
15. * turn burner to medium, cover and cook until cabbage nears an "al dente" texture
16. --> meanwhile remove spaghetti squash from oven, place in bowl to cool
17. * slice smoked pork into bite sized pieces
18. * add pork to pot
19. cook covered stirring ocassionaly about 10 minutes
20. --> during this time, pull the squash from its shell using a fork, when done, add to pot and mix together
21. * cook, uncovered another 10 minutes until liquid cooks off and the chocroute reaches a stewy, not too liquidy consistency
22. * check seasoning, add more wine, salt & pepper if necessary, and at this time, add thyme to taste
23. * when everything looks, and smells wonderful, serve to your adoring friends over a bed of raw cabbage or buttered egg noodles!
24. enjoy!

natural bacon, olive oil, garlic, onion, ver jus, apple cider vinegar, white wine, cabbage, squash, pork loin, thyme, salt

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/choucroute-ann-1210079 (may not work)