Pigs in the Blanket (Cabbage Rolls)

online photo, but it looks just like mine.

When fall winds blow, I think one of the most delicious meals in the world would be my granmother's pigs in a blanket. (Better known as cabbage rolls). I think they're divine, and she always made them along with her creamy mashed potatoes... extra liquid from these made the gravy, and we were set. She often made huge batches in two separate pans and brought them over to my mom and dad's household and to mine. Let me tell you what. Coming home after a day of teaching to a house tinged with these tomato-ey good home comfort food treats. It could happen for me if I'd get busy with a head of cabbage (green is prettier on these than red, although the taste is the same), a little hamburger and rice... and something tomato... Fill up a crockpot, turn on for sevenhours on slow... absolutely delicious. I reminds me of my friend's risotto, her Italian dish for the holidays...

What a "narsty" week as my ex would call it. Long days at school, even a six hour parent teacher conference thing on the MOST uncomfortable benches ever manufactured. Kids out early on Thursday and then completely "done" in their minds on Friday... whooooooo... at least it was payday... (Doing the Snoopy Happy Dance)..... I would never recommend teaching for the "money" but it didn't hurt this week!

Mom's table is covered with items she wants me to sell in my shop.... She's at that throwing out the baby with the bath water stage, and I don't like to see these treasures set out like this. She insists I'll be selling them at an auction later, so why not now? I dunno.... My brain is just on overfill right now.... I would love some mindless tv... got to move that satellite reception thing to my room at Mom's. Our taste in television is "slightly" different. She thinks "Dancing with the Stars" should be rated X due to their scanty clothes... My mom is a little bit on the Puritan side, I'd say... and lost in the thirties....

Well, sweet ones... As the old windmill outside my front door churns around and around and the sun dips into the West, I'm on my way back to Mom's for the night... Short break with my cat on the back of my arm chair and a dab and a promise to my home's cleanliness again.... Have a fun weekend. May your teams win and your comfort food be yummy.

Slow Cooked Cabbage Rolls
(Pigs in the Blanket)

1 large head cabbage
1 egg, beaten
1 can ()8 oz) tomato sauce
¾ c. quick cooking rice
½ c. chopped green pepper
½ c. crushed saltines (about fifteen crackers) optional
1 chopped onion
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
1 can (46 oz) V-8 juice
Salt, to taste
Grated parmesan or other cheese, if needed
Remove core from cabbage. Steam 12 large, outer leaves until limp; drain well; In a bowl, combine egg, tomato sauce, rice, pepper, cracker, and onion. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Place about 1/3 c. meat mixture on each cabbage leaf. Fold in sides, starting at an unfolded edge, and roll up completely to enclose the filling. Secure by placing fold side down in large, deep baking dish or in slow cooker. Pour V-8 juice over rolls and bake at 325 for one and a half hours or in slow cooker on low for 6-7 hours. Sprinkle with cheese and salt for last half hour.