Italian Beef & Cabbage Casserole

This recipe was featured in the 11/27/11 edition of The Herald-News in Rhea County, TN.

ITALIAN BEEF & CABBAGE CASSEROLE

Makes 6 Servings

1 Serving = 5 PointsPlus™

1 medium head of cabbage, coarsely shredded
1 pound lean ground beef
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
3 TBSP tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Steam cabbage for approximately 8 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and stir the ground beef, bell pepper and onion until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

Place half of the cabbage in an 11x8" baking dish coated with spray; top with half of the meat/tomato mixture. Repeat layers (dish will be full). Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes or until heated through.

MY SPIN: I didn't have any mozzarella cheese so I used the Weight Watchers Mexican Style shredded cheese (made with 2% milk) and it was yummy!!! I have a vegetable steamer which made steaming the cabbage easy. (If you don't have one.....I highly recommend getting one. Steamed veggies are so good!)

And for dessert: Use any cake mix and 12 ounces of diet soda.....nothing else!! Then bake 24 cupcakes per the box instructions. These will be 2 PointsPlus™ a cupcake. Me....I like cupcakes of a decent size so I make 18 cupcakes and they're 3 PointsPlus™. For instance.....I used a carrot cake mix anddiet rite cola.........and yesterday I made them using a pineapple cake mix and diet sprite. The pineapple ones.....I sprinkled a little flaked coconut on each cupcake and then baked them. I now have a new favorite cupcake!!!!! The combinations can be endless!!!! And these come out light and fluffy yet moist......so there's no need for icing/frosting!

Now for the 'legal mumbo-jumbo' to keep me out of court!*The PointsPlus™ values for this recipe was calculated by me (Jan Gomes) and is not an endorsement or approval of this recipe by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus™ registered trademark.*

Later!

Loving Life(time)!
Jan