The perfect "Cabbage Rolls" Vernstrom style.

1# of hamburger
1/2 # pork sausage
2 large cabbage heads
2 large cans tomato juice
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup rice
2 tsp mint leaves
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp allspice
2 tsp ginger
salt/pepper

Now double this if you are feeding more than 3 Vernstrom's

1. 
   
   Mix burger, sausage, onions, rice, mint, cumin, allspice, ginger and s/p
   together, by hand. Add tomato sauce just to keep it moist, not too much.


2. 
   
   Add water to 3 pans ( dutch oven type) and bring to a boil.


3. 
   
   Peel partly cored cabbage heads with a spoon and set leafs aside.
   When head gets smaller and more difficult to peel, immerse in boiling water briefly then peel off leafs..


4. 
   
   Line the bottom 1/2 way up the side of a large pot or two with uncooked
   cabbage leaves. Use the irregular ones or broken ones first.


5. 
   
   Place 2 or 3 leafs in each pot and cook till limp, not soggy.


6. 
   
   Remove leafs with tongs and cut the thick "vein" out. If the leaf is large, 2 cabbage rolls can be made from one by cutting it in half.


7. 
   
   Do not make the cabbage rolls too large. But instead try for a smaller consistent size. You can even pre-form the mixture to the size you desire and use what-ever cabbage is needed to finish it off. This uses more cabbage, which is good, but it also allows for even cooking.


8. 
   
   Stack the rolls in the pot, add tomato juice to cover when pot is 1/2 full and continue to finished.


9. 
   
   Add the rest of the juice, keeping it about 2 inches from the top but still covering the rolls.


10. 
    
    Bring to a boil, watch it closely, then reduce heat while still keeping at a slow boil for about 1 hour 20 minutes. Add liquid if necessary. Watch your temp so you don't burn the bottom of the pan. If you need to check them, look for cooked rice on the top ones and check to see if meat has changed color.


11. 
    
    If you like, mashed potato's and butter is a great accompaniment.

Very important!
Always have a lie prepared for when you're asked how many you ate at one sitting.