"Stuffed Cabbage" Strata

I recently bought a Biggest Loser Family cookbook, I love the regular one so much so I was excited to try some of these new recipes out. This Family cookbook claims to have "budget friendly meals your whole family will love" which sold me because let's face it kids have a hard time eating good food. (At least my son does anyway) Moving on, this is the first recipe I have tried and I loved it, and my kids ate all of theirs!

Ingredients:

olive oil spray

8 slices center cut bacon, cut into 2" pieces

1 1/4 c minced onion (I always use sweet onions)

1 c uncooked instant brwn rice

6 c shredded grn cabbage

1 1/2 lbs extra lean grnd chkn

1/2 t salt

1/4 t blk pepper

2- 8oz cans no salt added tomato sauce

3/4 c water

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with the olive oil spray. Line a dinner plate with a paper towel.

Place a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add the bacon and cook for 4-6 mins per side. Transfer the bacon to the lined plate. Discard all but 1 Tb of the bacon fat. (I didn't have to discard any, this bacon has pretty much no grease.)

Add the onions, and rice to the skillet and place over med heat. Cook until the onions are tender and the rice is just starting to brown, 3-5 mins.

Spread 3 c of the cabbage in an even layer on the bottom of the baking dish, top with the rice mixture forming an even layer.

Add the chkn, salt and pepper to the skillet and place over med-high heat. Cook the chkn breaking it up into chunks. Cook till no longer pink, 3-5 mins. Transfer the chkn to the baking dish forming another even layer. Spread the remaining 3 c of cabbage over the chkn.

Discard any liquid from the skillet and add the tomato sauce and water. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. With a ladle carefully spoon the sauce over the casserole, being sure the dish doesn't overflow. Lay the bacon pieces on top. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 45 mins. Uncover and bake 10 mins longer, or until the strata is heated through. Let stand 5 mins to set. Cut into 6 equal pieces and serve with hot sauce on side if desired.

Makes 6 servings
Per Serving: 271 calories, 32g protein, 25g carb, 5g fat, 75mg cholesterol, 5g fiber, 462mg sodium