Cool Weather Recipe ::: Cabbage Rolls

One dish that I love to fix in the fall / winter colder weather is cabbage rolls. Not all cabbage rolls are the same. Likewise there are many different ways to cook them and the chef may choose from beef, pork or lamb. Seasonings used often include ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg making it a delight to smell as they cook as well. 

Tips for Making Cabbage Rolls: 

• Purchase the biggest head of cabbage
• Cabbage that has leaves that are a bit loose works better than one that the leaves are tighter 
•  If the cabbage has dark green leaves on the outside will work better 
• If there are no large heads of cabbage available then purchase 2 heads in order to have enough larger outer leaves

For the cabbage rolls:

• 16-18 large cabbage leaves
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup milk

For the sauce:

• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves for garnish

To prepare the cabbage rolls:

• Heat a large pot of salted water over high heat until boiling. Drop the cabbage leaves, a few at a time, into the boiling water. Cover and cook for about 3 minutes or until wilted and pliable. Remove with tongs to a strainer to drain. Repeat until all leaves are par-boiled. Remove the thick central ribs by cutting along both sides of the rib in a long narrow triangle. Discard ribs. Set leaves aside. (SEE NOTES  BELOW)
• Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook until starting to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and sauté for 30-seconds. Remove the skillet from the heat. Transfer half the onion to a large mixing bowl.
• Off heat, add the ground beef, cooked rice, salt, pepper, egg and milk to the remaining onion mixture in the skillet. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Divide the ground beef and rice mixture evenly between the 16 cabbage leaves. Overlap the cut ends of the cabbage to prevent the filling from spilling out. Place the filling over the area that overlaps and fold in the sides. Roll the leaf tightly around the filling to create a tidy roll. Place the cabbage roll, seam side down, in the now empty skillet, Dutch oven or baking dish. Repeat until all filling is used.

To prepare the sauce:

• In the mixing bowl with the remaining onions, add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar and water. Pour over the cabbage rolls. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and bake until the sauce is bubbling and the rolls are heated through, about 45 minutes. Remove the lid and spoon some of the sauce over the cabbage rolls. Continue to bake, uncovered, for an additional 15 minutes.
• Carefully remove the cabbage rolls to a serving plate. Put the skillet with the sauce on the stove top and heat on medium. Whisk together the cornstarch and water and slowly add to the sauce in the skillet. Heat until thickened. Pour the tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls and serve immediately garnished with parsley. (recipe resource )

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Have you Minced the Meat

 Pumpkin Spice can be found nearly every where right now and soon the holidays will be brimming with all types of desserts and pies. My daddy simply loved pie and would take a slice over cake any day. One of his favorite types of pie was mincemeat. Have you ever had a piece of mincemeat pie?? Perhaps you have never heard of what mincemeat. 

In medieval days refrigeration had not been invented so when the great hunts would happen a way to preserve the food would be needed. One way to preserve meat was to turn it into mincemeat. There was no salting or smoking needed. The meat was mixed with fruit and spices and enjoyed in a savory manner. Eventually the British would catch onto the fact that you could enjoy a pie of mincemeat simply by increasing the fruit and spices and making the mixture a bit sweeter. 

Mincemeat pies have changed over the years and often do not include the grand amount of meat that they once did. Here are some vintage recipes that will allow you to try your own mincemeat pie 

Mincemeat Pie

1 pkg (9 oz) None Such Condensed Mince Meat
1-1/2 cups water
1 to 3 tablespoons sugar
Pastry for 2-crust pie

In small saucepan, crumble mince meat; add water and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps are thoroughly broken. Boil one minute. Cool. Line 8-inch pie plate with pastry; fill with mince meat mixture. Cover with top crust. Flute edges. Cut 4 gashes in center of top crust. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
For a 9 inch pie, use two (9 oz.) packages condensed mince meat, 3 cups of water and 2 to 6 tablespoons of sugar.)


PRIZE COOKIES
(Makes 5 dozen 3-inch cookies)

1 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs, well beaten
1 pkg (9 oz.) None Such Condensed Mince Meat
3-1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, cream shortening. Gradually add sugar, blending well after each addition. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Sift together flour, soda and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Crumble and stir in mince meat. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

find many great vintage recipes at recipe curio. 

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Show a Bit of Appreciation

Pastor appreciation is something that should be normal and understood. The bible tells that we are to respect the preacher as he is the Leader of our church. The bible verse 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 tells us that as a pastor he is as a "shepherd" in God's own flock.

So how should we show our appreciation?? Well there are many ways How do you show another you appreciate them. What ever it is that you do to show respect then this should be an example of how to show appreciation to the pastor. In any form oral, written, sharing your special talent such as cooking or writing, or how about just taking him or her out for a meal. Showering a bit of extra respect and appreciation can be as simple or as elegant as you wish it. However, one of the best ways to share your appreciation is to follow the words of the bible God's Holy word. 

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