Stuffed Cabbage

This is an excellent "homey" type of meal that is especially comforting during the winter for some reason. I don't usually go by a recipe, I just make it up as I go along. I'll try to describe the steps...

Stuffed Cabbage

1. Take the outside leaves off a small-to-medium head of cabbage; set them aside.
   
2. Mix up ground turkey (or beef) with instant rice, egg, and seasonings as though you were going to make your standard meatball recipe. (Use one pound for 2-4 people and 2 pounds for 4-8 people.)
   
3. Get out a big pot or a Dutch oven. Chop up the center part of the cabbage, and the leaves which have torn too much for stuffing. Place some of the chopped cabbage (like about a cup or two) in the bottom of the pot.
   
4. Measure out about a handful of meat, place it on the stem end of a cabbage leaf, then tuck the end over to enclose the meat. It does not have to be perfect. Secure with a toothpick or two. Place in pot, be sure to position it so you can add more; they will nestle together like puzzle pieces. (how good were you at playing Tetris?!)
   
5. You can also add a couple of plain meatballs here and there, if you'd like, to use up the meat, especially if your pot is getting full. Add the remainder of your chopped up cabbage on top.
6. Pour a can of diced, whole, or stewed tomatoes over the top of everything. Add enough water (or chicken broth, if you choose; I cannot recall what I had used in this instance) to cover the meat-stuffed parts, but it does not have to be full to the top. You don't want this to boil over!
   
7. Simmer, covered, over medium heat for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the cabbage cooks down.
   
8. Take out a meatball and cut it in half to check for doneness. Serve with ketchup.
   

NOTES: This dish is basically a meal in itself, but if you're feeding a crowd or a large family, you may want to have some boiled or mashed potatoes on the side, or some fresh homemade bread to go with it.

OPTIONS: Some people (like my mom) skip the tomatoes and add sauerkraut to their stuffed cabbage, but my husband hates sauerkraut.