STUFFED CABBAGE LEAVES

Steps:

• 1. Pour 2-1/2 cups of chicken broth in a pot bring to a boil and add 1 cup brown rice and cook on medium for 45 minutes till liquid is absorbed. In a seperate skillet brown your ground sirloin (or ground turkey) as you are smashing it to smaller pieces and browning add your diced onion, diced garlic, Montreal Steak Seasonings. Brown then add 2 fresh diced Basil & 3 diced Oregano, add the totally cooked rice & 1/2 of the can of tomato sauce into skillet stir together.
• 2. In another pot bring water to a boil and place your cabbage leaves in one at a time for about 2-3 minutes till they are slightly soft/pliable drain water off and set on your cutting board, one by one doing this with all your cabbage leaves.
• 3. Now empty your pot of water rinse it out and pour in the other half of the can of tomato sauce and the can of cooked peeled roma tomatoes I smush the tomatoes between my fingers till they are in pieces (wash your hands first) rinse your cans with about a 1/4 of a can of water in each to get all the sauce out. Rinse your hands and add 12 fresh washed small to medium leaves of oregano and another diced basil leaf a tsp of dried Parsley and a tsp of garlic powder, 1/8 tsp ground pepper, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp hungarian paparika to the pot of simmering tomatoes & sauce.
• 4. Next pick up one cabbage leaf and put a good sized scoop of the meat and rice mix in the middle of the leaf.Then take one side of the leave and fold it over on both sides then close each end and stick a toothpick through.It might take 2 or 3 toothpicks,place the toothpick through by sides to keep it from opening in the pot.Use 1-3 toothpicks so it doesn't pop open in your sauce as it simmers. When its nice and tight put in your simmering sauce gently don't burn your fingers.
• 5. Your pot should now have all the stuffed cabbage leaves in.Bring sauce to a simmer & Turn burner on low (if electric low or corning stove to 3) and cook covered 45 minutes to make sure all the flavors disperse and mingle with each other.
• 6. When I serve it I add a little of the tomatoes drizzle some sauce over it.Take the toothpicks out before you eat! You can add a salad or a vegetable if you like. Enjoy!