By Bernie Bell

In our veg patch, we have a monstrous cabbage

I posted this pic. on my FB page, and my cousin‘s comment was….

“Bacon and cabbage for dinner tomorrow.”

I reminded her that we don’t eat meat, and the cabbage is more likely to become part of a veg. curry or lasagne.

Then I thought what a traitor to my race I’m being, as bacon & cabbage is a traditional Irish meal – was one of my Dad’s favourites….

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon_and_cabbage

I then thought I’d post a couple of recipes for cabbage – dating from before we stopped eating meat – which can be eaten with other things instead of bacon….

Sweet & Sour Cabbage

• Half a head of a small cabbage
• I onion (sliced)
• Small tin of tomatoes
• Half a level teasp of carraway seeds
• Oil for cooking
• Salt & pepper

Sauce

• 2 level teasp cornflour
• 1 teasp vinegar
• 1 level teasp sugar
• 2 tblsp water

Shred cabbage.

Heat oil, add sugar and heat gently ‘til it melts.  Add tomatoes and onion and cook for a few minutes.

Add cabbage, salt, pepper and carraway seeds. Toss all together and cover the pan. Cook gently ‘til cabbage is tender.

For the sauce…

Mix cornflour, sugar, vinegar and water. Stir into cabbage, bring back to boil. Cook for about 5 mins.

Serve with potatoes and………. bacon – or something else!

Soy Sauce Cabbage

• Quarter of a cabbage
• Oil to cook
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped
• 1 tblsp butter
• 1 teasp sugar
• Pepper
• ½ a chicken stock cube + 3 tblsp water (or equivalent amount of your own stock…. https://theorkneynews.scot/2022/02/05/waste-not-want-not-2/ )
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 tblsp soy sauce
• 1 and a half tblsp red wine or sherry

Cut cabbage into thin strips and rinse.

Heat oil in large saucepan. Add onion, garlic and cabbage and stir-fry.

Sprinkle on the crumbled stock cube + water (or equivalent amount of your own stock).

Stir and cook at low heat for about 3 mins.

Add butter, stir and add soy sauce, sugar, wine and pepper – stir and simmer ‘til potatoes are ready.

Serve with baked or boiled potatoes and……….. grilled bacon – or something else!