Wild Bills Potted Cabbage Food

AUNT PEGGY AND UNCLE BILL'S STUFFED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Insert a large fork into the bottom of the cabbage. Holding the fork place the cabbage into the boiling water for about 10 seconds. Remove from water and peel off the leaves. Place the leaves in a large bowl and set aside.
• Combine ground beef, uncooked rice, meatloaf seasoning, and eggs. Stir thoroughly; set aside.
• Remove cabbage leaves from the bowl and cut off white thick stem part. Line a large oven-safe 9 x 12 baking dish with the smaller inner white cabbage leaves.
• Place 2 tablespoons of meat mixture in the center of a leaf. Fold over sides and roll up. Repeat with remaining leaves and meat. Place cabbage rolls seam side down in cabbage leaf lined pan. Cover with chopped onions.
• In a small bowl, stir together pasta sauce and diced tomatoes. Pour over onions and cover pan with foil. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.
• Serve hot with sauce.

PICKLED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife or a mandolin, thinly slice the cabbage and pack it into 2 32-oz (4 cup) mason jars. You might have to really pack it in there to get it all to fit but it shrinks up quite a bit as it pickles.
• In a large measuring cup, mix together the boiling water with apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, and garlic. Mix to combine until all of the sugar and salt is dissolved.
• Divide the vinegar mixture evenly between the 2 mason jars. The jar should be filled up to the neck but if it's not, you can add in a little extra water. Seal tightly and give it a little shake to make sure everything is combined.
• Let sit for at least 2 hours to pickle, but you get best results after 24 hours. This lasts great in the fridge for about 2 weeks! ENJOY!

BOILED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Scatter the bacon in a large Dutch oven and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Remove all but about 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the pot and add 2 tablespoons of the butter. When the butter has melted, add the broth, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper. Simmer for about 2 minutes to blend the flavors.
• Add the cabbage, bring the liquid back to a simmer over low heat and cover the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is very tender, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if needed. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a microwave or a small pot and drizzle over the cabbage. Just before serving, top with the reserved bacon.

VEGETARIAN WHOLE STUFFED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Rub the inside of a 3-quart round soufflé dish with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the cabbage leaves for 2 minutes to soften (they will continue to cook in the oven). Gently nudge them into the water with a large spoon if they float to the top during cooking. Drain and set aside.
• Pulse the garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the celery, carrot and red onion and pulse until finely chopped, scraping down the sides as necessary.
• Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil with the vegetable mixture, thyme, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool. Reserve the skillet.
• Pulse the cremini and shiitake mushrooms in batches in the food processor until finely chopped. Heat the reserved skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil with half of the mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened and the liquid has released but has not completely evaporated, about 4 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the cooked vegetable mixture. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, remaining mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Transfer to the bowl with the cooked vegetable mixture and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Add the brown rice, parsley and eggs to the vegetable mixture, and stir to combine well.
• Layer enough of the cabbage leaves to cover the bottom and up the sides of the souffle dish in a single layer, overlapping as needed to fill any visible gaps. Use the larger leaves, as the veins are more pronounced; the bottom will be the presentation side after it is cooked and flipped over.
• Gently spread about 1 2/3 cups of the mushroom mixture in the bottom of the dish in an even layer on top of the cabbage leaves. Evenly spread 5 tablespoons of marinara sauce over the mushroom mixture. Cover with a layer of cabbage leaves. Repeat with another 2 layers of mushroom mixture, marinara sauce and cabbage leaves, until all of the mushroom mixture is used. Reserve the remaining marinara sauce for serving. Tuck the final layer of cabbage neatly into the sides, gently pressing down all around to compact it.
• Tightly cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake until the cabbage is tender and the rice is cooked through, about 2 hours. Remove from the oven, but do not remove the foil. Allow to cool and set for at least 1 hour.
• Remove the foil and gently invert the stuffed cabbage onto a serving platter. Serve with the reserved warmed marinara sauce.

WILD BILL'S POTTED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Sauté bacon and onion. Leave grease in skillet. Add cabbage to bacon and onion. Add lemon juice, icing sugar, salt, pepper and apple. Cover.
• Simmer until cabbage is tender, keeping it liquid in pan to prevent it from sticking.