STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
• Removed the center core of the cabbage.
• Add cabbage to the water and cook for 3 minutes.
• Outer leaves turn bright green and are tender when ready.
• Lift the cabbage from water, and remove outer leaves.
• Place leaves on paper towel to remove water.
• Return cabbage to boiling water.
• Repeat cooking and removing leaves until all leaves are cooked.
• Reserve two cups cabbage cooking water.
• Trim center vein from bottom of each leaf.
• Save the 4 largest outer leaves to line the bottom of the dutch oven.
• In a small skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
• Add garlic and onion, cook till golden and tender.
• In a large bowl, combine onion mixture, beef, pork, rice, salt, pepper, parsley, paprika, sage, thyme, red pepper flakes, green pepper and celery.
• Line the bottom of a 5 quart dutch oven with the 4 large cabbage leaves.
• Fill 1 cabbage leaf with meat/rice mixture, approx.
• 1/3 cup.
• Fold sides of cabbage over filling and roll the leaf up.
• Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
• Place stuffed cabbage leaves into the dutch oven.
• In a bowl, combine tomato sauce, red wine, chicken stock and tomato paste, pinch of salt and pepper.
• Pour some of the sauce mixture over the stuffed cabbage rolls to completely cover them.
• Reserve the rest of the sauce.
• Sprinkle apple over the top.
• Bring to a simmer, turn to low heat and cover.
• Check the pot often, adding additional sauce or reserve cabbage water, as needed to keep moist.
• Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the leaves are tender.
• Optional: Place sour cream in a small bowl.
• Add about 3/4 cup of tomato sauce from dutch oven.
• Combine mixture with a whisk.
• Stir the sour cream mixture back into the dutch oven to combine.
• You are now ready to serve.
• Garnish with more sour cream as desired.