Stuffed Cabbage with Cranberry Sauce

DIRECTIONS

• Mix the cranberry sauce, tomato sauce, 1 cup water, lemon, and sugar in a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil; then add the raisins and the fresh cranberries.
• Peel, core, and dice the apple and add.
• Simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Core the cabbage and place in a large pot with water to cover.
• Bring to a boil and then simmer, covered, about 10 minutes or until wilted.
• Cover with cold water and drain.
• (Alternately, you can place the cored cabbage in the freezer for several days. Defrost 24 hours before making the cabbage. It will wilt naturally.) In a large bowl mix the meat, rice, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, egg, onion, 1/2 cup water, and ketchup, blending with your fingers until well mixed.
• Trim the ribs off the cabbage, remove the outside leaves, and line a large flameproof casserole with them.
• Pull off the inside leaves and place them one by one on a board, outside down.
• Fill with a heaping tablespoon or two of the filling, depending on the size of the leaf.
• Fold up like an envelope, top first, then bottom and then the 2 sides.
• Place seam side down in the lined casserole.
• Repeat with the rest of the cabbage and the filling.
• Pour the sauce over the stuffed cabbage and simmer, covered, for 2 hours.
• Then place the stuffed cabbage in a preheated 300 degree Fahrenheit oven and bake, uncovered, for one half hour more.
• Tip: Another American way to make this dish is to make a sauce of 3/4 cup ketchup, 1- 1/2-2 cups tomato juice, 3/4 cup brown sugar, the juice of 1 large lemon, and sour salt to taste.
• Make this dish ahead.
• It tastes much better the next day.
• Also, this is a good recipe to double.
• Freeze one portion for unexpected guests.