slow cooker Sauerkraut and Smoked Sausage

Coat the bottom of the slow cooker with oil. Toss in the crushed juniper berries. Cut the smoked sausage at an angle into about 2 inch (5 cm) lengths and arrange in the bottom of slow cooker. If you are using some potato sausage, leave it whole. Put the sauerkraut in a colander and rinse well under cold water. People disagree on how much to rinse, but I don't like salty sauerkraut. Drain. In a bowl, toss and mix the sauerkraut, onion, garlic, carrot, brown sugar, caraway seeds and dill. Put the mixture in the slow cooker on top of the sausage. Pour the white wine over all and place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on the "high" setting (5) for one hour, then on a lower setting (about 2 1/2) for 4-8 hours. Do not remove the lid from the slow cooker during cooking. Serve with mashed potatoes, dark rye-meal bread and spiced apples or pears (or applesauce if you don't have any of these on hand). Drink a good lager (i.e., DAB not Bud :-) or Pilzner beer. This reheats well. Variations: You may omit dill, juniper berries, and caraway seeds if these ingredients are not available (but I wouldn't). For the wine, you may substitute lager beer.