What would the world be like if our food could talk to us?
(The idea isn’t actually all that far fetched. Our computers already do—just consider the little Amazon widget that preselects books for customers based on their previous choices like or the Google function personalizing one’s search.)
Imagine a dialog with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s
Human: Yum. Let’s dig in!
Ben and Jerry’s “Seconds on the lips decades on the hips.”
Or a can of coke.
Human: Ahh. The pause that refreshes
Coke Can: “Refreshes what? Your dentists bank account!”
If this week’s recipe could talk it would whisper “ess ess mein kindt.
Sweet and Sour Cabbage is an old world favorite. While I’d love to say that this recipe is an ancient family heirloom it isn’t. Still it is a bubbie food and our bubbies were no fools.
Sweet and sour cabbage is lo cal and entirely cholesterol free and it’s got thiamin, riboflavin, calcium iron magnesium phosphorus and selenium as well as Vitamin’s K and C plus dietary fiber. And best of all it tastes yummy!
I like to put up a batch on Monday or Tuesday and freeze it until erev shabbos. This makes me feel that I’ve begun my Shabbos preparations early even if I don’t do a thing until Friday .
One bag of shredded red cabbage
Two cups of water
One half cup brown sugar (white is okay too)
One half cup vinegar (do not use synthetic vinegar. It gives the dish an unpleasant acidic taste. Don’t use balsamic either—too effete for this rather homely concoction. Just plain old apple cider vinegar will do just fine) By the way vinegar preserves the cabbage’s purple color. Otherwise it would turn blue!.
One medium sized onion
Two Granny Smith apples
One and a half tablespoons of cooking oil (or one teaspoon of oil and Pam)
Peel the apples and cut them into cubes. Remove the seeds —they’ve got cyanide in them—not enough to kill you but play it safe—I don’t want any lawsuits.
Dice the onion
Saute together apple chunks and onion
When the onions are translucent add cabbage, water, vinegar and sugar.
Simmer on low flame until the apples are soft and purple (about one hour).
Enjoy.
