Then, he came up with a brilliant idea. Cabbage rolls! I have never made them, so this would be a team effort. I needed (e:Uncutsaniflush) 's memory of helping his mom.... since we decided to go with her stovetop method, and not the method my grandma used (which she got from my grandpa's Ukrainian side of the family, most specificly, my great Auntie Mary). I called my mom with a few questions about how grandma did some things (she promised to send me a recipe, and i will try her way some time in the future) and (e:Uncutsaniflush) did some online research...
Off we went to Guerico's to get cabbage... and a few other things we needed or wanted that had little to do with tonight's dinner.
A side note on Guercio's. They had fiddleheads!
I wish i took a picture, but i didn't.. no one there, but the guy behind the counter and me and (e:Uncutsaniflush) even knew what they were. Oh, how i heard way too much about fiddlehead hunting when i was in Halifax! OK, so, here goes... a photo essay of our Cabbage Roll caper....
Behold, the humble raw cabbage head.
And the rice cooker beginning it's cooking.
Chopping onion for the filling.
Boiling the cored cabbage in salted sugared water.
Partially cooked rice.
Pot lined with celery ribs.. and Boca, the "meat" part of the filling.
Assembled filling of "meat", rice, sauted onions and seasonings.
Boiled, deviened cabbage leaves ready to be rolled.
Action shot!
All ready in the pot.
After about an hour on the stove.
My plate of food.
(E:Uncutsaniflush) 's plate of food.
Half eaten pot of cabbage rolls.
Yuuummmmmm......... all done.
All things said, i think we did damn good. They were yummy and the cabbage was nice and tender. Next time, more salt...
Those look seriously good, and they are rooled so nicely! Awesome job.
(e:libertad) --We actually call them Pigs in the Blanket too!
Great post! I had to call my mother to ask her about this, because I remembered she used to make them. Now she hates cooking and I had to beg her to show me how to make them when I go to see her for Memorial Day. She called the dish Holupki or pigs in a blanket. I thought the pigs in a blanket were the little cocktail weenies with croisant rolls baked around them, but I was wrong. She got the recipe from my Great Grandma Swartwood. I'm going to ask my Lithuanian Grandmother if she has a recipe too.
That is awesome! My Dad's wife, Jean (maybe I should refer to her as my step-mom here, but for reasons I have absolutely no basis for, I'm not ready for that yet) is making a family recipe book for her grand-daughter who is getting married next month. It includes all the traditional family recipes for Thanksgiving and Christmas, plus other family favorites, with pictures of the family member most associated with certain recipes. It's a great idea as a gift for someone about to become the head of their own household. Jean is really good at stuff like that. I have a feeling from her side of the family it may seem "pushy," but from my perspective, I can appreciate it. Isn't that always the way?
My family put together a family recipe book about 10 years ago which I still refer to. Jean is definitely taking it to the next level. Maybe by the time my niece gets married I'll be ready to take on the challenge. ;-)
Have you thought of using celery seed to enhance the celery flavor? Or instead of more tomator soup, a fresh ripe tomato or some canned diced tomatoes?
I am a closet food network junkie.
Sorry to make you hungry, (e:Kara). They took about an hour, maybe an hour and a half for Walt and i to make them... but we didn't make that many... I got to rambling, so i emailed you our basic recipe. :O)
I don't know how to spell Polish words either, (e:Theecarey)! I wish i had a childhood memory of having or making cabbage rolls. My mom does, though... and i pumped her for info today!
Veggie Shepherds Pie just uses meat substitute, (e:Metalpeter)... like the Boca stuff in my pictures of the cabbage rolls. It's made from wheat and soy type stuff.
Even though you didn't make it I love Shepards pie. What is better then ground beef covered by potatoes. It is hard for me to imagine a vegatarian version of that. As much as I try I just can't seem to grasp what it would be. I know at the verry least I would like the potatoe part.
Yum! Looks good, Lee :) We have gulumpkies (sp) once or twice a year. Actually, my mom makes them and I eat them, as she has been a vegetarian for 15+ years. While the meat alternative is good, this is the one time I truly prefer ground beef or turkey. As she used to eat meat cabbage rolls, having it any other way just isnt the same for her, so yeh, she usually makes it just for me. I need to learn the recipe and how exactlty to make them.
Making cabbage rolls is a fond childhood memory--and its really quite a process!! The whole house would smell of cabbage and we would make so many that that is all we'd eat for days (and giant platefuls at that!)--but not complaining, hehe.
Its a great cold weather food, so I better try to make some (with guidance of mom) before it gets hot out there!!
Those look incredible, and relatively easy to make. What seasonings do you use? Are they a leetee-family secret? And why does the sauce look tomato-y?
You made me hungry again and I just had dinner.