Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage

Stuffed cabbage is an old-fashioned family favorite. It’s a hearty meal that’s easy to make. Using a slow cooker makes this dish even easier to prepare on a busy day. Make a flavorful combination of ground beef, pork, and brown rice stuffed into pre-boiled cabbage leaves. If you prefer using Italian sausage instead of pork, look for a lower fat variety. Each leaf is then nestled into the slow cooker and the whole thing is topped with a tomato sauce. Come back hours later to a filling and tasty meal. NOTE: If a family member can’t eat cabbage, make them meatballs with the filling and cook it in the sauce.

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 Spaghetti With Eggplant & Bean Meatballs  

Many of us are trying to eat more plant-based food.  Eating a plant-based diet improves the health of your gut so you are better able to absorb the nutrients from food that support your immune system and reduce inflammation. I’ve written before about the connection between inflammation and illness. Plant fiber can lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar, and it helps prevent diabetes and heart disease.  Even if you only have one meatless day a week, it is a step toward a healthier diet.

Today’s recipe is a meatless version of a favorite dish of spaghetti and meatballs. The meatless balls are made of cooked eggplant, white beans, two kinds of cheese, panko bread crumbs, garlic, and oregano.  I make the meatballs 1 1/2″ to 2″  so they retain their shape better.  Then they are simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce before serving. I like the classic recipe for marinara in the New York Times. Yum! If you prefer, you can use your favorite pasta sauce instead of marinara.

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Low Carb Cauliflower Pizza Bites

Many folks are cutting back on gluten and carbs for their health. For some time, cauliflower has been used to replace carb-heavy foods like potatoes and grains. Remember creamy cauliflower mash with garlic ?  You’ve probably also heard of cauliflower pizza where cauliflower is used for the crust. Today I’m sharing cauliflower pizza bites which  are similar, and a crowd-pleasing fun food to eat.

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