Kielbasa Hot Potato Slaw

Brianna's week. The grass came back in the yard. Time to fix the BBQ pad. Worked four shifts this week at the plant. The line ran clean.

Pop's in the recliner. Tigers on. Sugar in range this week. Sunday at Mama's. She made greens with hambone the way she has since 1985.

Smothered turkey wings Sunday. Slow braised in onion gravy.

Aiden's 10. The youth basketball league. I'm coaching. He's the best player on the team and he knows it. Zaria's 8. Helps me cook on a step stool. Has opinions about the seasoning.

I drove home Sunday past the plant. The plant lights were on. The line was running. The line is always running.

I took a walk around the block Sunday morning. The neighborhood was quiet. The trees were the trees. The light was good. I waved at three porches. The porches waved back. Brookline holds.

The grass came in fast this week. Cut it Saturday morning before the heat. The mower had been sitting all winter. Took three pulls to start. Once it ran, it ran. Some things just need patience.

The custody calendar holds. Aiden and Zaria alternate weeks. Brianna and I co-parent without drama now. We do not always have to like each other to do this right.

Filled the propane tank Wednesday. The smoker is the only appliance I baby. Wiped it down. Checked the gaskets. Checked the temperature gauge. The smoker is mine the way Pop's torque wrench was his.

Truck needed an oil change Saturday. Did it myself in the driveway. Took an hour. The neighbor across the street gave me a thumbs-up from his porch. I gave him one back. Detroit men do not waste words on car maintenance.

Stopped at Eastern Market Saturday. Got chicken thighs, bacon, a watermelon, and a pound of greens that I did not need but bought anyway. The vendors know me by name now. Three of them asked about the family.

Plant ran clean this week. The line ran. The body held. The paycheck is the paycheck.

Drove past Jefferson North on Tuesday. The plant is still the plant. The trucks coming out. I waved at the gate guard out of habit. He waved back even though he didn't know me. The plant is its own neighborhood.

Pop sat in the recliner Sunday. He fell asleep before the third quarter. We covered him with a blanket.

I made grocery lists on the back of envelopes the way Mama did. The list this week was short — onions, garlic, half-and-half, cornmeal, a pound of bacon. The list is the recipe of the week before it happens.

Aiden had practice Tuesday and Thursday. I drove. He shot threes for an hour after.

The block had a small drama Tuesday. Somebody parked in front of Ms. Diane's driveway. Ms. Diane addressed it directly. The car moved within the hour. The neighborhood polices itself on small things.

The Lions on TV Sunday. Lost on a missed field goal. Detroit. The neighborhood collectively groaned at the same moment. You could hear it through the windows.

Mr. Williams across the street had a heart scare. He is okay. We are all watching each other now. I took him a plate of greens and chicken Wednesday. He said, "DeShawn. You're a good neighbor." I said, "We're even, Mr. Williams. You shoveled my walk in 2024." He laughed.

The drive home Friday was the long way around. I took Outer Drive past the lake. The water was still. I do not always notice the water. I noticed Friday.

Watched the Tigers Sunday afternoon. Lost in extras. Detroit reflex. I yelled at the TV the way Pop used to yell at the TV. The TV did not respond. The bullpen will probably not respond either.

Sunday was smothered turkey wings at Mama’s, and I’m not going to compete with that. But when I got home and looked at what I had — the bacon from Eastern Market still on the counter, a few potatoes left in the bag, the kielbasa I’d grabbed on instinct — this slaw came together the way a good week wraps up: no extra parts, nothing wasted, warm all the way through. Zaria stood on the step stool and had opinions about the vinegar. She was right to have them.

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Total Time: 40 min | Servings: 6

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs baby red potatoes, halved
1 lb kielbasa, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
4 strips bacon, chopped
1/2 medium head green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions

Boil the potatoes. Place halved potatoes in a large pot, cover with salted cold water, and bring to a boil. Cook 12–15 minutes until fork-tender. Drain and set aside.
Render the bacon. In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp, about 6–8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pan.
Brown the kielbasa. Add the kielbasa rounds to the same skillet with the bacon drippings. Cook over medium-high heat 3–4 minutes per side until edges are browned and caramelized. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
Soften the onion and cabbage. Reduce heat to medium. Add the sliced onion to the skillet and cook 3 minutes until softened. Add the cabbage and toss to coat in the drippings. Cook another 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is just wilted but still has some texture.
Build the warm dressing. Push the cabbage and onion to the edges of the skillet. Add the apple cider vinegar, mustard, sugar, and celery seed to the center of the pan. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it bubble 30 seconds, then fold everything together.
Combine and finish. Add the drained potatoes, bacon, and kielbasa back into the skillet. Toss gently to coat everything in the warm dressing. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and vinegar. Cook 2 more minutes until everything is heated through.
Serve. Transfer to a platter or serve straight from the skillet. Scatter fresh parsley over the top. Best eaten warm, right off the stove.

Nutrition (per serving)

Kielbasa Hot Potato Slaw — Some Weeks You Just Need Something That Eats Like a Neighborhood