UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS, RUSSIAN GALUMPKIS

Steps:

• 1. Start by cutting up your cabbage. You can make chunks,slices, whatever you feel like at the moment. Place it in a large sauce pan. Take half of your tomato juice or sauce, and pour it over the cabbage. Bring to a boil and then simmer for at least 15 minutes to reduce the cabbage and give you room for the porcupine balls.
• 2. While the cabbage simmers, mix the meat ball mixture. In a large bowl, mix the ground beef,eggs,soy sauce,pepper,onion powder, garlic powder and the rice. Mush it up with your hands and blend it all very well. Form this into meatballs by rolling a palm full in your hands.
• 3. After the cabbage is reduced and you have room in the pot, put the balls right on top of the cabbage. Add your 4 bay leaves and the rest of your tomato sauce or V-8 or tomato juice. Bring back to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for about 50 minutes to an hour. They are done when the rice if fully cooked.
• 4. NOTES: Mom used tomato sauce. I tried them with V-8 juice and they are good too. My Mom didnt use as much sauce/juice as I do now. I added more liquid due to the fact that the rice sucks it all up. The following day, you can add more sauce and ketchup because you will find that those thirsty meat balls sucked it all up again. Either that, or you can leave them and add more ketchup on top before reheating.