Stuffed Cabbage (Ukrainian Prockus)

DIRECTIONS

• Combine the cranberry sauce, tomato sauce, 2 cups tap water and brown sugar and bring to boil.
• Reduce to a simmer and add white raisins.
• Simmer 5 minutes.
• Core the heads of cabbage and place into a large pot.
• Cover with boiling water.
• Cover the pot and cook 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from hot water.
• Then cover the cabbage with cold water and separate the leaves.
• You may have to replace the inner half of the cabbage into the hot water, in order to soften the rest of the leaves.
• When the rest of the cabbage is done, place that into the cold water and separate those leaves.
• In a mixing bowl place the raw ground meat, raw rice, 1 egg, 3 saltine crackers that are soaked and squeezed dry, graded onion, 1/4 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon ketchup, salt and pepper to taste.
• After mixing the meat mixture well, fill the cabbage leaves with the meat mixture, rolling them closed, and place the large golf ball sized balls into a deep roasting pan.
• Cover with the tomato sauce mixture.
• Cover the pan with the lid or with heavy duty aluminum foil and bake in pre-heated 375 degree oven for 1 hour.
• Remove the cover and continue to bake at 375 degrees for an additional hour.
• You can either serve immediately or freeze until needed.