Taste of the Town: Unstuffed cabbage recipes are easy and inexpensive

Today we have two final recipes for unstuffed cabbage, one from reader Paula Kuty, who said she got it from her mother-in-law, and one from Vi Graham, who said her E-F Casserole (the letters stand for “easy” and “frugal”) won a monthly contest in the Deseret News for low-cost main dishes. I’ve adapted both slightly.

UNSTUFFED CABBAGE

1½ to 2 pounds ground beef

Minced onion or onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

1 egg

½ cup rice, rinsed

1 head cabbage

1 large can tomato juice

Mix beef, onion, salt, pepper, egg and rice. Form into meatballs. Put in bottom of large pan.

Chop cabbage and lay on top of meatballs. Pour juice over everything, adding water, if needed. Cover and simmer on stovetop until meatballs are cooked through.

— Recipe from Paula Kuty

THE E-F CASSEROLE

3 tablespoons margarine

1 medium onion, chopped

1 pound ground beef

¾ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

6 cups coarsely chopped cabbage

1 can tomato soup

Saute onion in margarine. Add beef and cook, stirring, until red color is gone. Add salt and pepper to taste and drain off most of the liquid.

Spread 3 cups chopped cabbage in a 3-quart casserole. Cover with meat mixture, then add remaining cabbage.

Spread tomato soup over the top. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Stir after 30 minutes, if desired.

— Recipe from Vi Graham

MORE READER FINDS

For Frank James, who’s looking for farmer cheese, Karen Langbert emailed that she has purchased 8-ounce packages of Friendship Farmer Cheese at Glazier’s Food Marketplace, which is at 8525 W. Warm Springs Road, and at Sprouts Farmers Market, which has five stores in the valley. CeCi Schreiber also recommended Glazier’s; Haskell Deutsch also recommended Sprouts. …

For Pat Dowd, who’s looking for hot cherry peppers, Ann Brown emailed that she found them at Glazier’s, and Rich Kohut reported finding them at Smart &Final at 10050 S. Eastern Ave. in Henderson. …

For Jan Silverman, who’s looking for a local source for Tajin Clasico Seasoning, Jean Garcia wrote that it’s available at Cuevas Meat Market at 530 S. Boulder Highway in Henderson, Henri Sedenic emailed that he spotted it in the produce section at La Bonita at 4120 S. Rainbow Blvd. (there are four other La Bonita locations in the valley) and Natalie Tantleff said she has seen it in the produce section at Winco at 80 N. Stephanie St. in Henderson; there’s another Winco at 6101 N. Decatur Blvd. …

For Kathy Miller, who said she’s looking for beer sausage cold cuts, Peter Schneider reported finding bierwurst at the German Bread Bakery, which has locations at 2237 N. Rampart Blvd. and 9255 S. Eastern Ave. Not sure if this is what Miller is looking for, but it’s as close as we’ve come. …

More on Mrs. Dash Tomato Basil Garlic Seasoning: Karla Nolan spotted it at Smith’s at 4700 W. Ann Road in North Las Vegas.