SPAM Golabki

I got this huge head of cabbage for a buck, which was really a mixed blessing.  On the one hand, it must have weighed something like twelve pounds, so paying just a buck for it was a pretty awesome deal.  On the other hand, it must have weighed something like twelve pounds and that's a lot of cabbage to deal with at one time.  I usually buy smaller heads so it doesn't go to waste.

I didn't have a lot to work with - it had been a few days since we'd been to the store -  but I did have some ground beef, a can of Low Sodium SPAM, and rice.  There's always rice in the house.

SPAM Golabki

Makes 12 to 16 golabki

1 head of cabbage

1 can Low Sodium SPAM

1 pound ground beef

2 cups cold cooked rice

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon paprika (more or less to taste)

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Tomato sauce

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and plunge in the head of cabbage long enough to wilt and loosen the outer leaves.  Remove the leaves and set aside; continue doing this until you have 12 to 16 cabbage leaves to roll into golabki; by the time you have that many, the remaining leaves in the head will be too small to use.

Remove the SPAM from the can and place in a large bowl.  With a fork, separate the SPAM into small bits.  Add the ground beef, rice, bell pepper, onion, paprika, and black pepper.  Also add a bit of salt to taste, but use your judgement - the SPAM is likely to have enough salt as it is.  Combine the mixture well.

Roll up small portions of the meat mixture in the cabbage leaves, and arrange the cabbage rolls in a lasagna pan or other large baking pan.  Spoon tomato sauce over the golabki to lightly cover them, then cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake in a 350 F oven for an hour.  Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve hot.  Green peas and mashed potatoes are fitting and appropriate sides.

Don't laugh.  These golabki came out awesome.

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