Doll Can Create

A simple, sweet-savory winter side dish made with local goodness.

There are certain vegetables we grow into over time, aren’t there?

I grew up eating boiled cabbage, and let me tell you — I did not enjoy it one bit. Limp, pale, and overcooked…it left an impression.

But cabbage, when treated with a little more love, is a different thing entirely.

Add apples. Add the warm sweetness of maple. Add a skillet instead of a pot. Suddenly this humble winter vegetable becomes something comforting, fragrant, and downright delicious.

Cabbage is one of those gorgeous, versatile staples that carries us through the colder months — a true winter workhorse. Packed with nutrients, easy to store, and budget-friendly, it fits beautifully into a frugal, local, slow-living kitchen.

This simple dish brings out everything cabbage can be: tender, flavourful, slightly sweet, and deeply cozy.

🥬 Ingredients

1 small green cabbage, thinly sliced 1 large apple (local if you can), thinly sliced 1 medium onion, sliced 2 tbsp butter or local oil 1–2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Optional: pinch of caraway seeds or thyme

🔥 Instructions

Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the sliced cabbage and cook until it begins to wilt, about 5 minutes. Add apple slices, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar. Stir well. Continue cooking 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender and apples are soft. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs if using.

Serve alongside roasted meats, sausages, perogies, skillet dinners, or even with a simple baked potato.

🍏 A Note From My Kitchen

I grew up avoiding cabbage — it was always boiled and bland.

Cooking it this way, with apples and maple, feels like redemption for a childhood vegetable I never quite warmed up to.

Now it’s one of my favourite winter sides. Funny how that happens.

How do you enjoy this winter vegetable?

Do you have a childhood cabbage memory too — good or bad? Tell me in the comments!

🍁 100-Mile Life Notes

Cabbage is a winter staple that stores beautifully in a cold room or fridge. Apples, onions, and maple syrup are easy to source locally all year in many regions. This dish is frugal, nourishing, and firmly rooted in seasonal local eating.

If you make this recipe, tag me at #DollCanCreate — I love seeing your cozy kitchen creations.

And if you’re exploring your own 100-Mile Life journey, this is a beautiful place to begin.