Lettuce Tacos

Ingredients:
*head of lettuce, washed
*1 - 2 lbs. ground meat
*the following, to taste:
-salt
-pepper
-garlic powder
-onion powder
-cumin
-chili powder
*the following, as desired (optional)
-onions, diced
-pepper, diced
-anything else you like in your taco meat

Directions:
1. Brown and season meat as desired. Add other veggies, if desired.

2. Place spoonful of taco meat on lettuce leaf, roll and enjoy.

Cabbage and Meatballs

Ingredients:
*1 head cabbage, chopped
*3 lbs. ground meat (I use turkey but anything or a combination of different ground meats will work.)
*1/2 onion, minced
*medium zucchini, shredded (optional)
*2 tsp. ground coriander
*2 tsp. garlic powder
*2 pints tomatoes, do not drain  (or 2 - 15oz cans if you don't have home-bottled tomatoes)
*handful baby carrots or a couple of regular carrots
*salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1.  Spread half of cabbage in bottom of slow cooker.

2.  In large bowl, mix meat, onion, spices, salt and pepper with hands until veggies and spices are evenly distributed.  

3.  Form meatballs.  (Make into about 2-inch balls.)

4.  Place meatballs on top of cabbage.

5.  Place remaining cabbage over meatballs.  Add carrots.  Pour tomatoes on top.

6.  Cook on low for 6 hours or until meatballs are done.

7.  Remove and discard carrots before serving.*

Notes:
*Usually sugar is added to recipes calling for tomatoes due to the acidity of the tomatoes.  Carrots supposedly absorb some of the acid, make the sugar unnecessary.

Recipe Source:  Adapted from MarksDailyApple.com

Spaghetti or Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:
*1 - 1 1/2 lbs. ground meat (I used ground turkey.)
*2 cups water
*1/2 small onion, chopped
*2 cloves garlic, chopped
*1 stalk celery, chopped
*1 1/2 cups carrots, chopped
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/8 tsp. pepper
*3 pints tomatoes (or3-15oz cans)
*1 tsp. oregano
*2 bay leaves
*1/2 Tbps basil

Directions:
1. In sauce pan, combine water, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, salt, and pepper.

2. Bring to boil and simmer until water boils away. Veggies should be really tender at this point, if not, add more water and boil longer.

3.  With an immersion blender, blend until smooth.

4. Brown ground meat and add to sauce.

5. Add tomatoes, oregano, and bay leaves. Simmer on low for about one hour. Stir occasionally.

6. Remove bay leaves.

7. Add basil.

8. If sauce is too thin, simmer until desired consistency is reached.

Serving Suggestions: Serve over tender spaghetti squash, steamed veggies or use as a dipping sauce.

Notes:
*Omit meat for marinara.
*I don't add the basil until right before serving. Prolonged heat tends to diminish the flavor and scent.