Feast of the Holy Family

Today we can have a traditional Lebanese meal, since this is the same kind of food that Mary served Jesus and St. Joseph. Taken from Catholic Culture

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients:
10 leaves cabbage
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 cups water
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of water to boil, introduce cabbage leaves and cook 2 minutes. Drain. Combine the rice and water is a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine beef, bread crumbs, cinnamon, drained and chopped tomatoes, onion and salt; stir until well combined. Spoon equal amounts of beef mixture onto the center of each cabbage leaf. Place a spoonful of rice onto the beef. Roll up leaves, tucking in edges, and seal with a toothpick. Wrap each roll in aluminum foil and place in a shallow baking dish.
Bake 40 minutes, or until beef is cooked through. Serve warm.

Lentil Soup

Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 cups dry lentils
8 cups water
1/2 cup spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons vinegar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.
Stir in lentils, and add water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve stir in spinach, and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper, and more vinegar if desired.

Hummus

Ingredients:
2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pinch paprika
1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley

Directions:
Place the garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, salt and garlic in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Transfer mixture to a serving bowl.
Drizzle olive oil over the garbanzo bean mixture. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley