Jims Cabbage And Potatoes Variation Of Moms Recipes

POTATO AND CABBAGE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture; toss gently. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Spread soups over top. , Cover and bake at 350° for 1-1/2 hours or until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.

CLASSIC CABBAGE WITH HAM AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Cut cabbage head in half and pop out core.
• Clean potatoes, no need to peel, but do use a dish sponge scratchy side to scrub them really well--cut off any bad black spots. Cut in half.
• Place cabbage on bottom, then top with potatoes.
• Toss in one left over ham, bone and all (or just the few pounds of ham you've purchased for this recipe -- I can say that you almost cannot have too much ham! But, it's all got to fit in your pot! LOL!). You do not have to cut it up. I see so many recipes where they are cutting the meat off the bone in neat little cubes and adding them to the pot. That is craziness! Firstly, the bone has a LOT of flavor and secondly, why work when the steam causes it to fall off the bone? I like to just toss in the entire ham, with whatever is leftover from our meal. When the dish is ready it will literally just fall off the bone at the time of serving. That is the beauty of this dish -- easy peasy!
• It's ok to just squeeze in all the ingredients the best you can. You will be cooking at extremely low heat for a very long time, it will all be fine.
• Salt and pepper to taste -- or do like I prefer to do and add nothing until it is plated. The ham is salty so it is very easy to over salt this dish. Be careful.
• A crock pot is perhaps the best way to make this meal the first time around, however I have made it on the stove top with the heat set to the lowest setting for the past 30 years. I like to use the stove because I have a pot far larger than the crock. It's up to you. If using a crock pot, use the medium setting all day long (depending -- if you have a crappy crock, you may need to set it on high -- you know what you have). On stove, cook at lowest possible setting all day. This is the perfect meal to set up before going to work -- when you get home dinner is ready!
• I just want to make a point of saying that NO water is required. You may have a hard time believing this. My mother certainly does and has ruined many pots as she will dump a tall glass (or 2) of water in when I'm not looking. Unfortunately you then wind up with a pot of water with ham, cabbage and potatoes swimming around begging to be rescued--and you lose a ton of flavor. DO NOT ADD WATER. Please trust me. There will be plenty of juice from the cabbage. So much so that you will most likely throw it out (though I like to use it as broth to pour over the dogs' dry food).
• So, quick recap -- just clean everything and squeeze it all into you pot or crock. For stove top, cook at lowest setting all day long, crock -- go for medium.

MY MOM'S CABBAGE AND POTATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Put the cabbage in a medium pot and cover with water.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook for approximately 10 to 15 minutes once boiling. Drain.
• Spray a 3 quart casserole dish with non stick cooking spray.
• Layer 1/2 the cabbage, the onion, and sprinkle with half the bacon.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Arrange half of the the potatoes on top of mixture.
• Repeat layers, ending with potatoes on top.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix cream of chicken soup and half and half together; pour over the casserole.
• Bake, covered, at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to an hour.