Alberta's Savory Meat Sauce ....

Alberta has these four recipes, all using SAVORY MEAT SAUCE, hand-written on a large, very old piece of paper. She also has the same recipes typed on cards. SAVORY MEAT SAUCE is the common thread for each of the recipes.

Be sure to read my comments about how I prepared the lasagna.

SAVORY MEAT SAUCE

1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
2 medium sized onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds ground beef
3 #2 cans tomatoes (7 cups)--this is equivalent to 2 large (28-ounce) cans
2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/1/2 tablespoons salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried basil

There are no instructions for the cooking of this sauce. I assume from the order of the ingredients that it would be something like this:

In a pot, saute onion and garlic in oil until lightly browned. Add ground beef and brown. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 1/2 hours.

The recipe appears to make enough for 1 batch of LASAGNE, a double batch of JIFFY CHILI CON CARNE, and 1 recipe of STUFFED CABBAGE BUNDLES.

Perhaps, Alberta thought this recipe was an easy way to prepare three separate dishes.

LASAGNA

1 pound lasagne noodles, 1 1/2 inches wide
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
5 cups SAVORY MEAT SAUCE
2 cups (1 pound) cream-style cottage cheese
2 8-ounce packages mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Lightly oil 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish.

Slide lasagna noodle strips without breaking into a large pot half filled with boiling water to which vegetable oil has been added (to keep noodles from sticking).

Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon until almost tender. Drain and cool with cold water.

Line the bottom of the baking dish with a single layer of drained lasagne strips, spoon over about 1/4 of the SAVORY MEAT SAUCE and cottage cheese, top with 1/4 of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Repeat to make 4 layers, ending with cheese topping.

Bake in a moderate (350 degree) oven for 30 minutes or until hot.

JIFFY CHILI CON CARNE

2 1/2 cups SAVORY MEAT SAUCE
2 cans (about 1 pound each) baked red kidney beans
2 teaspoons chili powder

Combine ingredients and simmer about 20 minutes.

STUFFED CABBAGE BUNDLES

1 large head cabbage
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup (1/4 pound) grated sharp American cheese
1 egg slightly beaten
1 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 1/2 cups SAVORY MEAT SAUCE

Cut out core of cabbage, peel off and discard imperfect leaves. Remove 8 large leaves, one at a time.

Steam cabbage in 1/2 inch boiling salted water in a large saucepan for 5 minutes.

Combine rice, cheese, egg, parsley, salt and worcestershire sauce in a medium bowl.

Melt butter in a small frying pan. Add onions and saute 3 minutes. Add to rice-cheese mixture.

Spoon stuffing into center of cabbage leaves, dividing evenly. Fold leaves up and over and fasten with metal skewers or wooden picks.

Place cabbage bundles in a 12 x 8 x 2 inch baking dish and pour SAVORY MEAT SAUCE over.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.