Cabbage, Beef & Cheese Casserole

Jan here, with another low-carb discovery.

This recipe was delicious!

There's just something about sauteed cabbage (NOT boiled-to-death cabbage) that is so good. Think of it in stir-fries - doesn't it add bulk and flavor at the same time? And in this dish you sautee it in butter and bacon grease...ambrosia. As the cabbage cooks in the butter or oil, it caramelizes a bit and sweetens just enough to make you come back for more.

Cabbage, Beef & Cheese Casserole

ingredients:

4 slices bacon (I like Wright's Apple Smoked Thick Cut)
2 Tablespoons butter
1 bag three-color coleslaw mix (or 1/2 head cabbage, shredded)
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon each garlic powder, thyme, oregano, and basil
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large frying pan, cook and crumble the bacon (or cut it in 1/2" pieces first and then cook it,) reserving 2 Tablespoons of the bacon grease. In the same pan, add the 2 Tablespoons butter to the bacon grease.

When the butter is melted, add the shredded cabbage. Add the bacon bits and cook for a couple minutes on medium heat, stirring and tossing the cabbage until it is slightly wilted and coated with the butter/bacon grease. Place the cabbage in the bottom of a greased casserole dish (I used a 9" x 9".)

In the same frying pan, cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink. Add the onion and herbs and continue cooking until the onion is softened. Spread the ground beef mixture on top of the cabbage in the casserole dish.

*Note: The next time I make this, I'll stir the ground beef and cabbage together.

Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.

Cook for 15-20 minutes in a 350° oven, or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.

I should have taken this photo from the other angle so you could see the cabbage/bacon layer.

I served it with celery sticks and avocado. Lettuce isn't on the menu yet - not until spring. But that will be soon!

And I know you've been waiting for a couple gratuitous puppy pictures!

With a new buddy in the house, it's hard to catch Jack holding still! I had to wait until he was getting a drink to get a photo. He loves the new toy we brought home last week.

Big news for Jack - he graduated from his Basic Manners class on Saturday. He did so well on his final exam, excelling in "walking on a loose leash," "coming when called," and "paying attention to his handler." All important things for a well-mannered dog to know!

And here's Sam, Jack's new toy. Yes, at nine weeks old he's still a little goofy-looking. He's a puppy! What do you expect?

But he has potential...every once in a while, we catch him doing the classic border collie crouch and stare (at Maggie-Cat!), and he is very responsive to our voices. It's early days yet, but I think agility might be in our future...

Watch this fabulous dog who won at Westminster this year!

Have you ever seen a dog having so much fun???

Actually, I have. Thatcher and I did agility together for several months and had a blast. But as much fun as he had, I ended up quitting when I signed a new contract (training dogs takes time!) However, if Sam has the potential to do well, I might be persuaded to put the time into the sport again.

If nothing else, it will keep me active!






Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband and growing family. When she isn't writing, she loves hiking in the Hills or satisfying her cross stitch addiction.

You can find Jan on Facebook, Jan Drexler, author, or her website, Jan Drexler.com