This recipe - slightly adapted from Fix it and Forget it for Entertaining - is not one that I thought I would be sharing on my blog. I made it for two reasons - I needed to use a head of cabbage and I wanted to use my crock pot. I didn't have high expectations. Well - slap my face and call me Sally - this stuff is delicious. It is so delicious that I just got off the treadmill because I decided it was worth jogging to get to have a second helping. That's right. This is so good I will jog for it. Nuff said.
Beef and Cabbage Casserole
1 medium onion, chopped
3 tbsp butter or margarine
1 lb ground beef
1/2 to 3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 small head cabbage, shredded
1 can condensed tomato soup
1. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in butter.
2. Add ground beef to onions and cook, stirring frequently, until beef is browned. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Layer half of cabbage in slow cooker, followed by half of meat mixture. Repeat layers.
4. Pour soup over top of cabbage and beef. Cover and cook on low for 4 - 6 hours.
5. Yields 8, 5 point servings
It seems forever ago that I picked a random song for you on a Friday night. Since I have been sharing the soundtrack of my life with you this week, it may seem superfluous to have my DJ pick a random song from my Zen for you tonight. Yet, I love the idea of just finding something at random - just getting a bit of unexpected, unpredictable musical inspiration. Tonight I got a great song for you. I love the artist Beck - one of his songs was playing in the background the first time I danced with my husband. Here is "Bottle of Blues".
Yes, this soup is one point. I know, I know, you are thinking, "That must mean it tastes bland and boring." Not so, not so? First of all - cabbage and onions are always a good combo. Add in some broth, some sausage, and black pepper - ah, perfection. One point of oh-so-good!
Creamy Cabbage Soup - 1 point
1 small head of cabbage, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
6 oz low fat chicken sausage, sliced
4 cups fat free chicken broth
3/4 cup sugar free almond milk (fat free milk could be substituted)
1 tsp ground black pepper
1. Combine cabbage, onion, sausage, and broth in a large pot. Simmer until vegetables are tender.
2. Stir milk and pepper into soup. Heat until bubbly.
3. Yields 8, 1 point servings
I have missed a few Fridays of music Friday, but I do have a song for you tonight. This one is not chosen randomly by my MP3 player as per usual. Last night at Maundy Thursday services and this morning at Good Friday service, there were beautiful performances of the African American spiritual "Were you There?" Listening to the sounds of this sad song with its African harmonies took me back to childhood; I grew up listening to "Where you There" on an old Mahalia Jackson LP. Now, if you do not know the voice of Mahalia Jackson, you are missing out on one of the most beautiful and powerful voices of all time. The emotion she can convey in a single note is unprecedented. Whatever your spiritual beliefs, I don't think you can resist being touched when you hear her sing.
Since I have missed a few Fridays, I hope you will indulge me with one more song from Mahalia Jackson. This is my favorite of her songs, another African American spiritual entitled "Sweet Little Jesus Boy". Now, there is one person in the world who I think outdoes her on this song, but since my dad's ethereal tenor cannot be found on You Tube, here is Mahalia's stirring rendition.
Curried Cabbage
1 medium green cabbage, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
3 cloves garlic
3 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp dried cilantro
salt to taste
1. In a large skillet, add all ingredients except cabbage. Simmer for five minutes to blend flavors.
2. Add cabbage. Cook, covered, over medium low heat until cabbage is tender.
3. Yields 5, 1 point servings
1/2 medium head of cabbage, shredded
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
3 medium carrots, shredded
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp caraway seeds
salt and pepper to taste
1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Makes 5, 1 point servings
The best description I can give you for this recipe is that it tastes like the delicious stuffing on the inside of an egg roll - without the extra points for the wrapper and the deep frying!
Broccoli with Cabbage
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp white wine
1/2 tsp Complete Seasoning or other seasoning salt
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp chili oil
1/2 large head of cabbage, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups broccoli florets and tender stems, chopped
1. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the cabbage, onions, and garlic. Saute until onions are transparent.
2. Add broccoli and continue to saute until the broccoli begins to soften.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Cover; lower heat to simmer for an additional ten minutes.
4. Yields 4, 3 point servings
