Shelly's Recipe

CABBAGE CASSEROLE

Category: Casseroles - Beef

2 large heads of cabbage, cored and chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 pound smoked sausage, finely diced
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups onions, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup garlic, minced
2 cups chicken stock or bouillon
1 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
1 (10-oz) can Rotel tomatoes
3 cups cooked rice
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs

In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and ground pork and brown, stirring occasionally for 15 to 20 minutes. When well browned, remove all but 1/2 cup rendered fat.

Into the same pot add onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Continue to cook until vegetables are wilted, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Add chopped cabbage, stirring well into the meat mixture. Add chicken stock, bring to a rolling boil and reduce to simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes.

At this point the cabbage should be cooked and slightly browned. Add tomato sauce and Rotel, blend well into the cabbage and season to taste with salt and pepper. Continue to simmer until approximately 1 cup of the liquid remains in the pot. Fold in cooked rice. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pour the cabbage-rice mixture into a 9 inch x 13 inch baking pan. Top with breadcrumbs and bake until lightly browned around the edges, approximately 20 minutes. Serve as an entree or as a side dish to accompany beef or chicken. SERVES: 8 to 10