CABBAGE STEW (Civil War recipe)

 "Cabbage: a familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man's head...."   - Ambrose Bierce

CIVIL WAR CABBAGE STEW.....(Good then. Really good now)

(with vegetarian options)

 Chopped green cabbage. One head should do it, or you can use 4 pkgs of already chopped cabbage. Easy peasy.

2 chopped onions       2 cans stewed tomatoes   2 cans of navy beans

 Pinches of salt, garlic, pepper and optional Cajun seasoning. ( I did not use Cajun seasoning!)

Cubed salt pork ( also optional….) Can also use ground pork, which is what I used.

         I've also done this without the meat for vegetarian. So good.

 I added  a can or two of navy beans. You can be creative with it. But the original recipe asks for salt pork.

 "Really, Mr. Lincoln, I have had enough of this show business"
-- Ulysses S. Grant used these words to decline to attend a White House party in his honour, so that he may return to the front 

 *Fry up the pork in a heavy pot. Add cabbage, tomaotes, onions, and stir to wilt down. I threw in about 2 cups of broth to help it out.

 *Continue to cook and simmer. The longer it cooks down the flavours will blend better.

*Add the beans. If you are doing the vegetarian option the beans are  a necessity. In the original  they would sometimes add beans to go with the salt pork ,but not always.

 *Add in the seasonings. Taste to see what you think of it. Add more  if you want.

 *Keep simmering. Watch your water and broth levels. If it gets too low, add a bit more broth so it does not stick to the pot. 

 *Leftovers make a great pie. Waste not. Want not…….

 "Dear Wife I have only time to write a short letter but a little more than to say good-bye. I know you will be glad to know that I am well, and in the best of spirits. I will write to you upon the first opportunity. Until then, good-bye. Keep of good cheer, and may God bless and protect you."        Yours Very Truly,​
                                                           James M. Randall ( Union Soldier) Nov 11 1864

 The soldiers would have mopped up the ends of the stew or the pie with hard tack or johnnycake.

 * Both versions work well. Both cook down beautifully. You can do this in a crock pot, but I found it did best in a pot on the stove. Just have to stir it. Crock pot didn't have the same consistency.

"In June of '63, we all went up to Gettysburg. After a few days, some of us came back..." 
-anonymous southern soldier
                        (supposedly the ONLY unembellished war story ever told)

"If you don't have my army supplied, and keep it supplied, we'll eat your mules up, sir"-- William T. Sherman issued this warning to an army quartermaster prior to the departure of Sherman's army from Chattanooga toward Atlanta

Photographs 2018    Quotes from Civil War Talk Forum online 
                     (fascinating look at many, many quotes from the Civil War)