9 cups drained sauerkraut (from 5 to 6 pounds packaged, not canned, sauerkraut)
1/4 pound smoked bacon* (preferably slab), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces
2 medium-large onions, sliced thin
4 medium carrots, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch -thick slices
5 1/2 cups Oktoberfest lager (44 ounces) such as Paulaner
1 cup chicken broth
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon vegetable oil if desired
1 3/4 pounds assorted smoked and precooked fresh sausages* (we used smoked kielbasa cut into thick slices, frankfurters, and baernwurst, and precooked fresh bratwurst, weisswurst, and chipolata)
a 1-pound piece smoked boneless pork loin (Canadian bacon)*, cut into 4 slices

*available at some specialty butcher shops and some supermarkets and by mail order form Schaller and Weber, tel.(800)847-4115

Accompaniment: coarse-grained mustard
sausages, sauerkraut,

Honey Syrup
2 to 3 large oranges
1/2 cup honey
2/3 cup orange juice

Cake
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup half and half
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2/3 cup dried currants

Frosting
12 ounces imported white chocolate (such as Lindt), chopped
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups toasted sliced almonds
Orange slices or orange peel ribbon
lebkuchen, cake, white

3 pounds large boiling potatoes (about 6)
1/2 pound of lean bacon (about 8 slices), cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon celery seeds
1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
6 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 hard-boiled large eggs, chopped
1/3 cup chopped dill pickles
1/2 cup thinly sliced scallion greens
potato, salad,