just like grandma's

this blog post is more for my family members than anyone else, but even if you aren't this is worth reading! 

as the weather gets colder and colder, more and more recipes from my childhood resurface.  the following is some of the best comfort food i've ever had because it brings back wonderful memories of my beloved grandma.  she's not in the best of health at the moment and stupid me never asked for or wrote down her recipes.  however...  sometimes being a perfectionist is a good thing!  i have worked long and hard to replicate the taste of these two signature dishes of hers.  these are now to the point where every bite brings me back to her kitchen.  =)

stuffed cabbage/gołąbki

1 large green cabbage
1-1/2 lbs ground beef chuck
1 lb ground pork
4 cups cooked rice (cooked with 1 tsp salt)
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
3 cans Campbell's Tomato Bisque soup
4 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

1. boil the cabbage in a large pot with about ¼ cup salt for about 10 minutes.  remove and let cool.  break off leaves from the core.
2. while the cabbage is boiling...  preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  in a large bowl mix together the meat, rice, and garlic.  season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. use the outer leaves of the cabbage head as a layer on the bottom of your pan(s) [we use 2 large corningware bakeware pans with glass lids].  in the middle of each leaf add about a cup of meat mixture.  roll cabbage from the core side up to the outside of the leaf, making sure to tuck the sides in.  place side by side in pan.
4. when done, in another large bowl empty the 3 cans of soup.  add 1/2 can of water to this and mix.  pour the soup over your cabbage rolls.  cover and bake for 30-40 minutes (longer if you want it your rolls a little dry like grandma's were, lol!)

makes about 12 cabbage rolls.  enjoy! =)



and pair this with a famous grandma side dish...

grandma's sour cream cucumbers

3 cucumbers, peeled and sliced very thin
2/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tbs sugar (start with 1 tbs and add to taste)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
dillweed to taste (optional)

1. add all ingredients to a large bowl.  mix well.  cover and chill for at least an hour before serving.

♠ ♠ ♠

download a printable copy of this recipe at...
http://www.oncupcakemoon.com/recipes/golabkiandsourcreamcucumbers.pdf