How do I know it's winter time? Not by the wreath that I just hung up on my door nor the pristine white snow from our first snowfall last night and not even from my son heading off with snowpants to school for the first time this year. Although all of these are indicators that we can finally stop kidding ourselves it's only fall, it's the smells eminating from my kitchen that put me firmly into the winter wonderland spirit. On tonight's menu....cottage roll, sauerkraut and whipped potatoes. It's been cooking since 9am this morning the house smells so good I could eat dinner now at 3pm! I know the snow will probably melt by tomorrow but tonight I'm going to light the fire, pour a glass of wine and enjoy a hearty family meal! Won't be so pretty tomorrow morning when the house still smells like sauerkraut but I'll just have to brew an extra strong pot of coffee to cover the smell!

Here's my easy recipe for winter warmth!

Ingredients:

• 1 cottage roll, size is up to you depending upon how many you want to feed (these are found in the refrigerated butcher section in your local grocery store usuall next to the hams)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• 4-5 slices of salami, diced (or other smokey type meat - bacon, pancetta, pepperoni etc)
• 2 cans sauerkraut (you can rinse them with water if you don't like it as sour as I do)
• 1 cup (250ml) of water

1. In a large stock pot, add the onion, bay leaves, salami, sauerkraut and water.
2. Make a slight whole in the middle of the sauerkraut and nestle the cottage roll in the middle.
3. Cover and simmer over low heat for 5-6 hours or until the meat is fork tender, turning meat over periodically and spooning the sauerkraut over top to keep it moist.
4. Remove meat from pot. Slice thickly and serve with sauerkraut and whipped potatoes.