Cabbage Roll Casserole

olive oil - 4 tbsp., separated

• onion - 1 medium, chopped
• garlic cloves - 3, minced
• ground beef - 1 pound (500 g)
• salt and pepper - use very generously
• thyme - 1 tsp., dried
• paprika - 2 tsp.
• Worcestershire sauce - 1 tbsp.
• brown sugar - 2 tbsp.
• white vinegar - 1 tbsp.
• diced tomatoes - 1 14 oz. (400 g) can, with juices
• tomato sauce - 1 15 oz. (480 g) jar
• brown rice - 2 cups, cooked
• green cabbage - 1 large head, coarsely chopped
• parmesan - 1/2 cup, grated
• mozzarella - 1 cup, shredded

Instructions:

• Heat 2 tbsp. of the olive oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium heat and sauté the onion for about 3 - 4 minutes, until softened, then add the garlic and cook for another minute or two.

• Increase the heat to high and add the ground beef and season well with salt and pepper.  Cook until browned, crumbling it up as it cooks.

• Stir in the thyme, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and vinegar and cook for a couple more minutes before adding the tomatoes and tomato sauce.  Swirl about 1/4 cup of water in the bottom of the tomato sauce jar and add that as well.

• Let this simmer for about 15 minutes, then stir in the cooked rice and remove from heat.

• In another large, deep, pan heat 2 more tbsp. of olive oil over medium high heat and add the chopped cabbage.  Cook, stirring almost constantly until the cabbage is about half cooked - add salt and pepper generously as it cooks, then remove from heat.

• Heat your oven to 350 F (175 C) and grease a large casserole dish.

• Spread about 1/2 the cabbage onto the bottom, pressing it down a bit with the back of a spoon.

• Spoon half the beef mixture over the cabbage, then add the other half of the cabbage and finish with the rest of the meat mixture.

• Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 45 minutes, then remove the foil and sprinkle the cheeses on top.

• Bake uncovered for about 10 more minutes, until the cheese melts, then move the dish to the top of the oven - turn the broiler on for a minute or two until the cheese begins to brown.