Cabbage Hotdish??

I recently switched to grocery shopping once per month rather than each week. It's has helped me become more resourceful, right down to the bag of old cabbage in my ridge. It had been there for about 3 weeks in it's sealed bag, still in good shape. I found a cabbage recipe in a church cookbook and curiously whipped up 'Cabbage Hotdish'.

It didn't have a name in the cookbook other than 'hotdish' and I wasn't about to tell my family what was in it but it turned out excellent and healthy and they gobbled it up!!

Ingredients:
1# Ground Beef (I used 1 1/2 #)
1 medium onion
1/2 c. uncooked rice. (I used 1 c. leftover cooked brown rice)
1/2 head cabbage (I used 3/4 of the 16oz. bag)
1 - 15oz. can tomato sauce (or 2 small cans)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (I used 1/4 tsp crushed garlic from my freezer)
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 c. tomato juice (I used 2c. V8 vegetable juice)

Brown the beef. Layer the beef, cabbage, sauce, rice and onion in 2-qt casserole dish. Repeat layers. Mix garlic with pepper and juice; pour over top. Cover. Bake 350 for 1 1/4 hours. (I just put everything into the crock pot on high for 3 1/2 hours or so). Easily serves 5 or more.

Did you know CABBAGE is a SUPERFOOD!! It's FULL of vitamin C - more than Oranges!! Vitamin C is the best anti oxidant that reduces 'free radicals' in your body which are the basic cause of ageing! It also helps in treating ulcers, certain cancers, strengthens your immune system and fights against cough and cold! What a great reason to 'eat your cabbage'! 

5 Days of Fasting....sort of

On Sunday we arrived back at our house after 2 months of constant running around; 5 weddings, 2 baby showers, 1 bridal shower, California visitors, holiday parties...the list goes on and on. Each week I'd shop for food for the weekend, mow lawn, pack clothes, wrap gifts, print maps, prepare meals, load the car AND be a mom and wife. It's been insanely busy. Sooo, I decided that I would 'fast' from going anywhere this week.

"and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years old, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day" Luke 2:37

Today is Saturday and I have completed my 5 day fast!! It was easier than I thought! It was a week of reflection to realize what's really important, like reading His word and sitting at His feet each day BEFORE anything else!

I also got tons of stuff done like all the clothes is washed, folded AND put away, both the bathrooms are sparkly clean, this blog is up and running, balanced wholesome meals were made, there was no stress of trying to get the kids out of the house and the garden thanked me for plucking it's produce!! What a great week! 

So, like Anna, the widow of about eighty-four years old, I give THANKS to the Lord for what he has allowed me to accomplish this week!