Stuffed Cabbage

This is a great Saint Patrick's Day Dinner or any other time of the year. Easy to make and very good.

STUFFED CABBAGE

(serves 8)

Ingredients:

*3 tablespoon olive oil

*2 medium yellow onions, chopped

*2 garlic cloves, minced

*2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes & their juice.

*1/4 cup red wine vinegar

*1/2 cup light brown sugar

*1/2 cup raisins (optional)

*1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

*1 teaspoon ground black pepper

*1 large green cabbage

*2 pounds hamburger

*1/2 pound ground pork

*4 large eggs, lightly beaten

*1 large onion, chopped

*1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs

*1 cup cooked white rice

*1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

*3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese

*1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

*1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

~In a large saucepan, heat olive oil & onions, cook over medium heat over medium-low heat for 6-8 minutes or until onions are translucent.

~Add tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, raisins, salt & pepper.

~Bring to a boil, and lower heat to a simmer.

~Simmer, uncovered for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

~Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.

~Remove the core from the cabbage.

~Carefully put the cabbage into the boiling water for a couple minutes.

~Remove from water, and carefully remove leaves, . If they don't remove easily and aren't flexible, return to water for a minute.

~In a large mixing bowl, combine the beef, pork, eggs, onion, breadcrumbs, rice, thyme, parmesan cheese, salt, & pepper.

~Add 1 cup sauce to the meat mixture and mix lightly with a fork.

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~Place one 1 cup of tomato sauce in the bottom of a large dutch oven.

~Remove the hard rib from the bottom of each cabbage leaf, with a sharp knife.

~Place about 1/2 cup of filling in an oval shape near the rib edge of each leaf.

~Roll up towards the top of leaf, tucking in the sides like a burrito, as you roll.

~Place the 1/2 of of the cabbage rolls, seam sides down, over the sauce.

~Add another cup of sauce over top of cabbage rolls.

~Add the rest of the cabbage rolls over sauce, seam sides down.

~Add remaining sauce.

~Cover dutch oven, and bake 1 hour or until the meat is cooked.