Years ago my mom and I were sitting around contemplating our next camping trip. We wanted to go far enough where we could get a change of scenery yet only be gone a few days. I remember grabbing a AAA map of Georgia, and randomly pointing to a spot in north Georgia. Blairsville, GA became a place that we would visit for years to come, and still do. It was one of those random things that turned into a memorable vacation spot!

We love to tell people about this hidden gem. It’s up in the mountains, the area is quiet and filled with cute little country shops and dining spots that I just fall in love with each and every time I go. A few years after first discovering Blairsville, we planned a winter trip with some of our long term friends and neighbors. That vacation turned out to be one of the craziest trips we had ever taken. Between rats and dirty underwear in the cabin, inexperienced snow drivers (me), and getting lost on mountain roads, it was definitely a trip we’d never forget. That was the same vacation where my mom almost fell down the mountain waterfall.

Oh, but it gets worse. Much worse. You see my neighbor had a young child that she brought along for the trip. Somehow, someone told this young child about a little something called the Cabbage Patch Hospital that was only an hour outside of where we were staying. And of course this meant that we would be going. I remember some of us rebelling against paying a visit to this place, but somehow we came to the conclusion that this was probably more of a Cabbage Patch doll museum more than anything else. I remember having one of these dolls when I was little. They weren’t so bad, in fact I loved that doll. “The “museum” might actually be something that I might enjoy” I thought to myself.

Remember them? Blast from the past!

I was wrong. So very very wrong. I blocked most of the experience out of my brain, but I do remember this place acting as though it were a real hospital, calling “doctors” over the PA system, having nursery areas for preemies, and even a birthing area where you can witness a cabbage vagina giving birth to a newborn. Apparently when “mother cabbage” is “10 leaves dilated” she’s ready to give birth. Oh yes, I’m serious. Don’t believe me? Here you go. Oh and while you’re at it, check out the reviews on Yelp. Apparently I’m not the only one who was completely creeped out!

Luckily this horrendous experience didn’t spoil my appreciation for cabbage, the vegetable. In honor of the luckiest day of the year and the fact that I survived this cabbagey ordeal, here’s a $7 slim and simple supper that is packed full of vitamins, and just happens to be delicious.

Here is the cost breakdown. All ingredients were bought at Aldi!

Reduced sodium chicken broth $2.00 ($1.75/container; I used 1.5)
Baby carrots $.20 ($.60/package; I used 1/3 of the pack)
Split peas $.75
Minced garlic $.20 ($1.99/jar; I used 1 tablespoon)
Onion $.40
Celery $.40 (8 stalks/$.99)
Cabbage $.65 ($1.29/head; I used half)
Broccoli florets $1.20
Lemon $.20
Dill & Thyme from fresh plants
*Parsley, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper (these items are pantry staples and aren’t counted in the grand total)

Grand total: $6.00 (6-8 servings= less than $1 per serving)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! What’s on your green menu today?

Steph 🙂

Do share!