Unstuffed Cabbage Soup and Cranberry Orange Cornmeal Cake

If you like stuffed cabbage but don't want to spend the time it takes to make them, this is a great alternative.  I made this for the first time yesterday for the after school kids and I am sure I will be making it often.  I sort of hated seeing this go out the door.  It's that good.

 I made a ton of this so I will give you the recipe for a normal serving:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 small head green cabbage cored and coarsely chopped
• 3 large cloves garlic minced
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (more or less depending on taste)
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1-1/2 cup cooked long grain white rice

 Saute' the onion and add the ground beef.

 Add the cabbage and cook it stirring occasionally until it begins to soften.

 Add the rest of the ingredients except for the rice and let it simmer until the cabbage has softened.  I added some beef bouillon to enrich the broth.

Stir in the cooked rice just before serving.

I also made them a couple of cranberry orange cornmeal cakes which they really enjoyed.

You can find the recipe here:  http://octoberfarm.blogspot.com/2013/11/cranberry-orange-cornmeal-cake-and-storm.html