Monday, September 13, 2010

Italian Cabbage Casserole & 2 Year Giveaway

Johnny's sister, Di and I have been crafting our little hearts out lately. We both love Halloween, and it's never too early to start celebrating!

It was both Di's and my first time jigsawing EVER. I think we did a fantastic job, if I don't say so myself! The templates are from Martha Stewart's web site.

In a special Taste of Home fall craft and recipe magazine Di got, this Italian Cabbage Casserole caught my eye. The original recipe can be found here, and my adaptation is below.

1 medium cabbage, shredded
1 pound loose Italian sausage
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
29 oz. can of tomato puree
6 oz. can of tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp basil
1 tsp Kosher salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (I used part-skim)

Place the shredded cabbage in a steamer basket over about 1 inch of boiling water. Cover and steam for 6-8 minutes, or until tender. Rinse with cool water, drain, and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, green pepper, and onion until the sausage is no longer pink. Stir in the tomato puree, paste, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Place half of the cabbage in a greased 11" x 17" baking dish. Top with the sausage mixture, then 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes at 350°. Finish under the broiler to brown the cheese. Serves 6-8 and reheats nicely.



This was absolutely delicious. Johnny and I both loved it. It hits all the same notes of a lasagna, but uses the cabbage instead of noodles, which would make it a nice substitute for a gluten-free lasagna. The next day we ate it reheated for lunch with Di and she loved it too. It will definitely become part of our rotation. Plus, I love that it makes a huge pan and we have leftovers for a few days.

And I TOTALLY forgot about my own giveaway! Sorry, guys.

My two year blogaversary was yesterday, Sunday, September 12th. Hard to believe it's been two years already.

Although at the same time it feels like I've been doing this forever. I can't remember back to a time it wasn't "normal" to take pictures of my food before digging in!

As I said, this will be a surprise giveaway! You (and I) don't know the prize yet, but a prize is a prize, so it's still worth fighting for - amiright?

To enter:

Leave a comment below letting me know how long you've been blogging! (If you're not a blogger, feel free to leave any ol' comment!)

For an extra entry, tweet about this giveaway and leave a 2nd comment with @yourhandle.

For additional entries, link up to this week's Friday Firsts. Leave a separate comment for each linkback on this post.

Giveaway will end Saturday, September 18th at midnight. I will announce the winner soon thereafter.

34 comments:

sophia said...

I don't believe it. HOW do you even get leftovers from that lovely, cheesy, yummy thing? I think I would finish it in a day.

Happy 2-year blogoversary!!! I've never celebrated my bloggie b-day before, mostly because I'm just too lazy to figure out which day is its "birthday". So, I don't even really know how long I've been blogging...maybe 1.5 years? Not sure, but definitely around there.

sophia said...

Tweeting in 1...2...3...

Simply Life said...

I've been blogging for just over a year - congrats on 2!

Lea @ healthy coconut said...

I've been blogging for only 3 months. I'm a newbie.

Congratulations on hitting the 2 year mark.

Lea @ Healthy Coconut said...

I tweeted the giveaway. @Healthy_Coconut

Kristina @ spabettie said...

I've been blogging for FOUR months yesterday!! :)

Wow... it seems like longer. :)

Congrats on two years!

Beth Morey said...

Ooh I love secret surprises!

I've been blogging since November 2007. It's less than 2 months after our wedding day, so I can remember both anniversaries with easy. Yay for #3! :)

Beth Morey said...

I inadvertently retweeted Sophia's tweet (@betherann). It's still got the link... ;)

Mara @ What's For Dinner? said...

WOW two years?! You and I started right around the same time... I started late october 2008! CRAZY! Can't wait to get together soon :)

Mara @ What's For Dinner? said...

tweeted!!

Maggie @ Say Yes to Salad said...

I've been blogging almost 3 years (in december). Wowza.

Maggie @ Say Yes to Salad said...

I tweeted! (@thesaladgirl)

Laura said...

Oh yeah!! this is right up my alley!! Love it and the witch is so cute, saw it on facebook and fell in in love with it :) woot woot

I have been blogging for 4 years 2 years of a private blog and almost 2 here--wait maybe it's only 3 years--I'll have to go check :)

TheMadWifey said...

WOW that looks delicious! I am totally going to make that and I know my husband will love it! Congratulations on your blogaversary!!! I ♥ your blog and I adore your cutting board!!!

Jessie said...

Yay! Congrats, Christina!!! 2 YEARS!! I've been blogging for about 1/2 year - a newbie!

Also, how cute are you in that first pic with the jigsaw thing? Answer: very. :D

Jessie said...

TWEEEEEEEEET!!

dlpiano said...

That witch is awesome~ AND The casserole looks delish wish I could just put a fork into this.

A@ Please Don't Eat Me! said...

ive been blogging almost as long i think! i had to change blogs but I've been around for a while!! lol

happy 2 year anniversary!!!

now.. what do i win?? HAHAHA

Jenn@slim-shoppin said...

Happy Anniversary!

I've been blogging for 2 1/2 years, and the time does sure fly by!!!

And, you are special to me since you were the first person besides my family to leave me a comment!

Amber Shea @Almost Vegan said...

I've been blogging now for 2 years, 2 months! Congrats on your 2 years :]

Julie @ Get Healthy Cheap said...

Wow! LOVE the witch and the recipe. I've been blogging (this time) for only 3 months. lol. Congrats on 2 years, that's a lot of work!

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

Congratulations on the two year anniversary.

I just printed up this recipe and tomorrow, I buy the cabbage.

I have been blogging a year, last month but it seems like yesterday that I was a newbie.

Ally's Sweet and Savory Eats said...

I'm not a huge cabbage eater, but this casserole looks fantastic!

I've been blogging since last December (thanks to you my friend), so in a few months I will also have an anniversary!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on 2 years! I think I beat you by a couple weeks!

And you and I have been commenting to each other ever since!

Anonymous said...

Happy blogaversary! I think I've been blogging four years or so :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Tweeted the giveaway
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Candace said...

Technically, I'm more of a blog reader. And I do love giveaways! And I love cabbage (am I weird?), that recipe looks great.

Congrats!
readysetwin at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I'd love to blog, but it's more fun reading other blogs like yours! This recipe looks fab! Congrats on two years!

LISA ROBERTS said...

this recipe looks amazing !!!! can't wait to try it, have a feeling i will be making it alot !!
i do not blog--just started reading alot of others though, and really enjoy it !!

Alisa said...

Oh I love surprises! Happy Anniversary!

I've been "blogging" for about 3 years, but I started Go Dairy Free 5 years ago. Not really a blog, more of a site, so not sure if it counts :) - alisa at godairyfree.org

Anonymous said...

I have been blogging since December... it's fun!!
I <3 giveaways!!!!
Happy blogiversary!

Laura said...

my comment for FF :) still want the prize to be a witch :D ooh mini witch?

Jessie said...

My FF entry! Priiiiiiiiize, so excited! :)

Christina said...

Jessie FF entry 2