Kraut and Chops

When we had family dinners at Grandpa's house, Grandma would make a sauerkraut dish. (Grandpa made his own kraut) She put in pork chops and hot dogs. You could substitute any good sausage as well. The version below is my wife's interpretation based on my memory of the dish. Good, simple and filling.

6 center cut pork loin chops, season w salt & pepper

Rinse chops pat dry and season place in a cold frying pan w 1 tbs. oil and brown, when browned remove and set aside.
　
Sauerkraut
2 bags (about 2 lbs) sauerkraut rinse well and drain.
4 strips bacon,
4 cups apple juice or cider,
1 med. chopped onion,
2 cloves garlic minced,
3 cups chicken stock,
½ cup brown sugar or splenda brown sugar sub.
1 tsp. juniper berries,
2 bay leaves,
½ tsp caraway seeds,
pinch cloves,
1 tsp creole seasoning
1 small apple

Reduce apple juice or cider to 2 cups. Fry bacon till crisp. Add onion fry till golden, add garlic , add reduced apple juice /cider chicken stock , brown sugar and all spices. Cook about 5 minutes. Peel and chop 1 apple, add sauerkraut and apple. Cook until almost all of the juice is gone. Set aside.

Peel and chop 4 small potatoes into 2 inch cubes, brown in pan drippings from pork chops.
Place ½ of sauerkraut mix in crock pot top with 3 pork chops , to with remaining sauerkraut and chops.

Cook until done about 2 hours.