Pick Your Pot Cabbage and Sausage

To me, a "one pot meal" means simple, quick and that "go to" meal you make when you have had a long day or you just don't feel like cooking a big complicated meal.  I like the idea of a quick clean up too after a long day, so the idea of just one pot to clean can be very appealing. 

I say "pick your pot" because it can be made either in a stock pot, a pressure cooker or a slow cooker, all with wonderful results.

2 pounds cased sausage (your preference, even meatless sausage works well for this) sliced in 1 inch pieces
1 pound potatoes - peeled and diced 
1 pound carrot  
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground pepper
enough water to cover
1 head of cabbage

**I have to give my mom the credit here since this is actually derived from a dish she made our family when I was younger.  I didn't know the exact recipe, so I did some ad-libbing and came up with something my family really enjoys.  It's easy to make with or without a pressure cooker, and really takes about the same amount of time either way. Something I love about this dish is that you can make a vegetarian version that taste great!

Peel and wash all your veggies.

Slice the carrots into 1/2 inch pieces 
Dice the potatoes into 1 inch squares
Slice sausage into  about 1/2 inch pieces

**Remember keeping all your pieces sliced in uniform pieces will help them all cook at the same rate. **

Add all the ingredients into the pot of your choice.  If you opt to make it in a stock pot, use at least a 4 quart one so there is plenty of room.

Add the spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, garlic powder, salt & pepper

Add enough water to cover. 

All the ingredients will have been added with the exception of the cabbage.


There are the cooking directions for each of the different pots:

Stock Pot Bring to a boil Reduce to Medium heat and cook until potatoos and carrots are tender (about 20 minutes) Add Cabbage wedges and replace cover

Pressure Cooker Place cover and make sure seal is in place Bring to a boil, or until you hear the steam releasing (about 10 min) Remove from heat and allow to cool on it's own, do not release pressure until all steam has stopped Carefully open the pressure cooker and add cabbage wedges

Slow Cooker Add all ingredients except cabbage and turn heat to medium Allow to cook for at least 6 hours, or until potatoes and carrots are tender

The cabbage wedges are added only during the last minutes of cooking so they don't cook into "mush" or completely disappear.

Cabbage takes about 10 minutes to soften at medium big heat, this will be the same timing for the pressure cooker as you do not bring the pot back up to pressure.  

Stock Pot Add cabbage wedges and cover Cook approx. 10 min more, or until cabbage is soft

Pressure Cooker Carefully open the pressure cooker and add cabbage wedges Recover loosely without sealing for pressure and return to heat for another 10 minutes or until cabbage is soft

Slow Cooker Add cabbage during last 20 minutes of cooking, increasing heat to high if needed, and cook til cabbage is soft

All in one pot, with easy clean up!