Calenda Cabbage
This is an amazing recipe -- absolutely wonderful. It is a
recipe from Melrose
Plantation from many generations ago. A black woman won her
freedom
from slavery also found a way to free her 14 children and some
other
relatives and BOUGHT a plantation. It was one of only 5 successful
plantations run by freed slaves. This is her recipe!!!!
List of Ingredients
Calenda Cabbage
1 small head of cabbage
1/3 cup reg. rice cooked and cooled
1 cup finely diced cooked chicken
1/2 cup finely diced cooked ham
Cheese sauce (recipe follows)
Paprika
Core Cabbage. IN a large sauce pan or stock pot cover cabbage
with
water and season with salt and cook til tender. Approx. 20
25
minutes. DRAIN and RESERVE liquid. Cool cabbage.
Combine rice, chicken, ham, 1/2 tsp salt and pepper and mix
well. Set
aside.
Cut a piece of cheesecloth big enough to hold cabbage and dampen
it.
Lay it out flat and lay Cabbage on the cheesecloth. With the
cored
out part UP... start from outer layer and pull each leaf down
and
separate. You want it to remain whole... and when all leaves
are
separated it will look like like an opened flower.
Now starting at the center.. fill spaces between leaves with
rice and
meat mixture keeping the cabbage whole. Gently returning the
cabbage
back to it's round shape. (It won't be tight and round.. it
will look
like a stuffed flower )
When all leaves are stuffed pull up opposite sides of the cheesecloth
and tie tightly. Pull up opposides of other two sides of cheesecloth
and tie tightly. TWIST the cabbage so the cheesecloth is tightly
bound. Tie the top of the knot with twine to hold it.
Return to pan with 1 cup of reserved broth, COVER and simmer
for 20
minutes. (It won't burn)
While this is cooking again make Cheese Sauce.
Cheese Sauce
In a small saucepan melt 2 T butter or margarine. Blend in
2 T flour,
1/4 tsp salt and a dash of pepper.
Add 1 1/4 cups milk and cook stirring constantly til mixture
is
thickened and bubbly. STir in 1/2 cup shredded sharp American
Cheese.
Heat til cheese is melted.
To serve:
Remove cabbage from pot and drain. Put cabbage on a plate and
untie
the cheesecloth and lay cheesecloth out. Put another plate
over the
top and turn it over so the core part of the cabbage is on
the
bottom. You should have a smooth top. Remove Cheesecloth and
cut into
wedges and serve with cheese sauce.
By the way....you can substitute corned beef for the chicken
for St.
Patricks Day too.
Recipe
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