Cabbage Rolls

At the bottom, I will be sharing a recipe that is like the recipe my grandma did. Since my grandma didn’t write out the recipe. Nor can I ask her about it as she isn’t available for me to ask. It’s basic but sometimes basic food can be the nicest. The food is ‘Cabbage Rolls’ and it was one of my favorite dishes while growing up. My grandpa used to tell us that it was ‘Pigs in a Blanket’. Because my grandpa thinks he’s funny. He’s sometimes right about that.

Sometimes.

At any rate, I remember having it when I was really young. Like maybe six or seven years old. I’m not entirely sure. All I did know is that I liked the cabbage part of it when I was younger. It wasn’t like I hated tomato soup or anything like that. But it was good. Every single time that I had it when I was older, I didn’t realize it came with rice in it. Mostly thanks to the fact my mom never made it at home. Her ex-husband hated it for several reasons. I’m never sure why. But I don’t care as we’re not living with him anymore. And we had it more times when we visited grandma and grandpa’s place. It was one of the best foods they would make when we visited. We would all sit around in the living room and make a menu to include it when we could.

I know that’s weird, but we used to live there sometimes. So, we would all make a menu when we lived there. Along with groceries and such. My mom and I loved it a lot. It was a recipe that my mom wanted to know. Pretending that it’s such a secret when you could look it up online. I suppose my grandma’s rendition of the recipe will be. As my grandma has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t remember anything anymore. When mom asked to have it one night, grandma had forgotten the recipe. She was so distraught over it. Crying so badly that my mom got out her phone and started to look it up on google. Deciding to help grandma make the recipe with her.

It was something that helped an awkward situation. One that really helped my grandma feel less upset and scared. And I think it really helped them bond together. They were really happy to work on the dinner together. Even though I’m pretty sure it made my mom sad that grandma forgot it. As it was sort of a sign of worst things to come. Which, I will not go on here. As it would really sadden a dish that made us all happy. It was something that I wish I could eat now. But unfortunately, my younger brother hates it. My younger brother hates tomatoes, and the dish has tomatoes in it. I won’t get into why we can’t eat it when he’s around.

It's just frustrating.

I wish that I had a chance to make it with my grandma. But I never had a chance. It was good having a nice. One of my favorite times that she made it. I was sleeping over. It was my turn that month. As my grandparents liked to take turns with us grandkids. That way we could spend time with them evenly. It still feels fair to me now that I’m an adult. I absolutely loved it growing up. I still do. And I had gotten a chance to watch movies with my grandparents. My grandpa was playing games with me. The whole time that I got to be there. When it was time for dinner, I wasn’t sure what to expect for it. As my grandma was a good cook when she was cooking. As well as grandpa. They both made really good dishes that I was so fond of.

Well, I’m fond of now that I’m an adult. When I was a kid, I didn’t think I was all that fond of it. In fact, I was really interested in eating junk food. Like McDonald’s or something like that. Maybe even Pizza Ranch. When my grandpa told me that we were having pigs in a blanket, I wasn’t all that excited about it. Especially when I thought pigs in a blanket were hot dogs in something like breading. I didn’t even really like hot dogs when I was a kid. But I didn’t pout around my grandparents as I love them very much. And I didn’t want to disappoint my grandpa the most in all honesty. It turned out that it wasn’t what I was expecting in the slightest bit. The pigs in a blanket turned out to be these cabbage rolls. They smelled so good, and I couldn’t wait to dig into them. I was a whole lot more excited than I thought I was going to be. Though I did think it was weird that grandpa called it pigs in a blanket.

I asked my grandpa about it. Saying that it was weird he called it that and I can’t remember what he said. But I did know that I loved eating it. It was something I told mom about later and she was jealous that I got to eat it. Since it was one of her favorite foods as well. Then I asked her why grandpa called it pigs in a blanket. Since it wasn’t hot dogs or sausage in a pancake. My mom told me later it was a joke that my grandpa does to bug grandma. Mostly to tease her. Which is something that he does a lot. Did a lot. Anyways it’s one of the few foods that grandma makes that mom, and I love. My mom loved to joke about it with my grandma that she’d push a nun into traffic to get it.

A joke that I also used to make when grandma was around. It always made her laugh, and she’d hug me or mom after. I love it and I wish I could make it again sometime. Hopefully I can.

Cabbage Rolls Recipe:

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup water

• ⅓ cup uncooked white rice

• 8 cabbage leaves

• 1-pound lean ground beef

• ¼ cup chopped onion

• 1 large egg, slightly beaten

• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed tomato soup, divided

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Gather all ingredients.

2. Bring water and rice to boil in a saucepan.

3. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, bring a large, wide saucepan of lightly salted water to boil. Add cabbage leaves and cook for 2 to 4 minutes or until softened; drain.

5. Combine ground beef, 1 cup of cooked rice, onion, beaten egg, 2 tablespoons of tomato soup, salt, and pepper in a large bowl; mix thoroughly.

6. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of beef mixture onto each cabbage leaf.

7. Bring one end of the cabbage leaf over the mixture.

8. Place cabbage rolls in a large skillet over medium heat.

9. Pour remaining tomato soup on top

10. Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for about 40 minutes, stirring and basting with the liquid often.

11. Serve and enjoy!