Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

I love stuffed casserole, but it's not the lowest calorie thing to eat.   Now you would think with the word cabbage in it, that it would be zero calories.   Here is one that I think is very good and it's only  225 calories per serving.

STUFFED CABBAGE CASSEROLE
(serves 6)

Ingredients:
*1 cup brown rice
*2 cups water
*1 pound lean ground beef
*1 large onion, chopped small
*2 garlic cloves, minced
*1/2 green bell pepper, chopped small (optional)
*1/2 red bell pepper, chopped small (optional)
*1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
*1 teaspoon paprika
*1 1/2 teaspoons italian seasoning

*1 pint stewed tomatoes

*1 (15.oz) can tomato sauce

*1/4 cup water
*1 teaspoon olive oil
*1 head cabbage, coarsely chopped

*1 teaspoon salt

*1/2 teaspoon black pepper

*2 cups reduced fat mozzarella cheese

Directions:
~Add rice & 2 cups water to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
~Reduced heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with a cooking spray.
~In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onions, green pepper & red pepper, garlic & onions until ground beef is no longer pink.
~Add dried thyme, paprika & italian seasoning.
~Cook for 1-2 minutes.
~Add stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, & 1/4 cup water.
~Simmer 15-20 minutes, or until sauce is starting to thicken up.
~Cut cabbage in half & cut out the core (I do this while the tomato sauce is thickening up).
~Remove any brown or wilted outer leaves.
~Chop cabbage into around 1 inch pieces.
~Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil into a large skillet.
~Add cabbage and cook over medium heat, until the cabbage is wilted, but not fully cooked (turn cabbage occasionally).
~Add salt & pepper to cabbage.
~Stir in cooked rice to tomato mixture.
~Layer half of the cabbage mixture into prepared 9x13 inch pan.
~Pour half of the meat mixture over the cabbage.
~Repeat with remaining cabbage & meat mixture.
~Cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 40 minutes.
~Remove foil & sprinkle cheese over casserole.
~Bake for 20 minutes.

Variation:
`substitute ground beef for ground chicken or turkey.
`substitute mozzarella cheese for reduced-fat cheddar cheese.