I'll give the actual recipe, but I put more celery, carrots and potatoes in. I don't measure, just chop, till I have as much as I want. I didn't have green pepper. I also had to add another can of tomatoes today. As I said, it grew. I started out in my enamel cast-iron dutch oven and had to transfer everything to my large stock pot! Hearty Cabbage Soup In a large pot saute: 1 lb ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 1/2 cup diced celery 1/2 green pepper, chopped 1 garlic clove, chopped Saute until the redness disappears from the meat. Add: 2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp paprika 1 28-oz can tomatoes 1 can tomato paste 2 cups beef broth 2 cups hot water 3 tbsp parsley flakes hot sauce to taste (optional) 2 cups diced potatoes, peeled 1 cup diced carrot Combine thoroughly. Simmer, uncovered 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add 6-7 cups coarsely chopped cabbage, (approximately 1 small head) Combine and simmer, covered, 1 hour longer. You may need to add 1-2 cups hot water.

I didn't cook the dinner I was going to, but we had ham, baked sweet potatoes, green beans and pineapple casserole. Harry had bought an 11 pound ham just before the kids came (sometimes I wonder where that boy's mind is) and there was tons of it leftover, even after a meal and sandwiches a few times for lunch. Talk about growing, I swear that ham is magic! It's a spiral cut, so I cut most of the meat off the bone and sealed the bone for soup. Then I sealed a nice piece for ham and scalloped potatoes. Had some pieces left that will be good in an omelet or quiche. Plus lots left over from dinner. We have to start eating our frozen leftovers. There are more of those in the freezer than food to cook.

Tamale pie sounds good, Patti. Easy, too. Harry would like it, for sure. I'd love to have some of your turnips and greens, Ruthie. My mother used to cook the roots and throw the green tops away. LOL! Love greens. Your dinner sounds so good, Staci. Do you have a quesadilla maker? Harry loves them, but I have a problem turning them over (and keeping the insides inside). Have you ever posted the cream puff dessert? Sounds decadent, so please share! We are finally getting good tomatoes here, but not in the supermarket, Azzalea. Yesterday we stopped at a farmer's stand and I got 2 big red tomatoes, 3 ears of corn, 1 red pepper and 2 cucumbers for $4.89. Bengardening, those pinwheels must've been a lot of work to make by hand. It reminded me of churros but it was large and coiled around and around. A little taste of heaven, believe me!

Haha Patti. We posted at the exact same time. I thought maybe you were out running errands, and weren't home to start the thread yet.