Deb's Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

• 2 large green cabbage
• 1 liter sauerkraut, hand-squeezed out to remove excess moisture

meat filling

• 1 lb uncooked lean ground beef
• 1 lb uncooked ground lean pork
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1-2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3 cups uncooked instant rice

tomato sauce (use 1 1/2 cups)

• 28 ounces diced tomatoes

• 1 (10 ounce) can campbell's tomato soup

• 1 (500 ml) jar tomato sauce
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2-1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions

1. 1

   Set oven to 350 degrees F.

2. 2

   Line medium roasting pan with heavy foil.

3. 3

   Cut core out of cabbage heads.

4. 4

   Put cabbage core side down in microwavable bowl with 1 inch water and microwave for 10 minutes.

5. 5

   Remove the leaves from the cabbage (Be careful the heads will be very hot, you can do the cabbage prep ahead of time).

6. 6

   If leaves are not quite cooked, put in covered pot with 1 inch water and boil till done.

7. 7

   FOR MEAT FILLING; using clean hands mix all ingredients together for the meat filling in large bowl until thoroughly combined.

8. 8

   FOR SAUCE; in another bowl combine all sauce ingredients together until blended.

9. 9

   Line the bottom of the pan with cabbage leaves. Sprinkle sauerkraut onto leaves.

10. 10

    Stuff the cabbage leaves tightly but carefully with 2 teaspoons of the meat mixture.

11. 11

    Roll up tightly and place the rolls in a layer on top of the cabbage leaves in the baking dish.

12. 12

    If you have left over meat mixture, you can put it around the rolls and cover with sauce, and small cabbage leaves.

13. 13

    Drizzle half of the sauce over the rolls (using a butter knife separate the rolls slightly to insure the sauce settles between and around each roll).

14. 14

    Sprinkle about more sauerkraut over the sauce.

15. 15

    Start second layer and repeat as above.

16. 16

    Cover tightly with foil.

17. 17

    If the roaster looks full, place a cooking sheet under roaster in oven to catch overflow.

18. 18

    Cook at 350 degrees F (oven rack set to second-lowest position) for about 3 to 3 1/2 hours or until the cabbage is very tender. Check after about 2 hours).