lazy man's cabbage roll casserole

In a large roasting pan 

On a stove burner bring to a boil for 5 minutes:

1 bottle\can vegetable cocktail or tomato juice

1\2 can water

1 can diced tomatoes

1/4 c. cider vinegar

2 tbsp. brown sugar, packed

1 tbsp. dry mustard

2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 mesh bag of pickling spice

*** you can use a cup of sauerkraut or the juice of one jar of pickles

This is you cabbage roll sauce.

Then add and stir well.;

1 onion, chopped

1 cup celery chopped

Bring to a full boil.

Stir in:

1 lb cooked ground meat

1\2 cup cooked rice

4 cups rough cut (no core) cabbage

Stir and turn of heat, cover and let stand

Until 1 hour before dinner.

*you can also prep ahead 

and throw in fridge for next day.

Place roaster into 

An oven, at 350 with lid on

For 1 to 1.5 hours until cabbage is tender.

**note the reason I precook my rice is so the sauce does not dry up. The cabbage and rice absorb a ton of the liquid so keep an eye on it and add more water or tomato juice if needed.

"Bon appetit!"