Gluten Free Pastrami Reuben Rollups

So yah, it's been awhile since I've had the luxury of writing on my blog. All of my reasons were/are legitimate. My husband and my son were having health issues that just needed to be firmly interacted with on many different levels. So that being said, things picked up to very positive levels starting in the new year for both of them, and me.

We even downsized our living quarters from a three bedroom (one bedroom was the catch all for everything!) to a two bedroom in a completely new community. It even has a bigger and up to date kitchen! So that means I can cook in style. I have about triple the counter space, drawers and cupboards with a huge pantry. I can actually have ALL of my equipment and groceries in the same room, not spread out between closets and spaces in a wild variety of places. I no longer have to open a drawer, open the cupboard door directly under it to support the drawer, place a jelly roll pan onto the open drawer, and then place a cookie rack on top of that for cooling the goodies! The problem with this setup however is that if someone came into the kitchen while I was in there working and even "breezed" by these elaborate setups, they could and would disassemble, falling to the floor and loosing everything! Quite frustrating. Picture me screaming into a paper bag!

Here in the new house? No need for idiotic setups, 'cuz there's lots and lots and lots of room. Lots of counter space which is wider and deeper lending the spaces available to fit all of my equipment sizes and quantities. Beautiful, simply beautiful!

Therefore I proudly offer a scrumptious gluten free twist on the classic Reuben Sandwich - specialized to meet some very diverse dietary needs and issues of our little household. To which  these are: Gluten Free, Carb Free, Protein Up, Good Fats Up and just downright delicious! These choices help to control issues for Celiac, Gluten Sensitivity, Seizure Control, Weight Management, and Depression Management. The dietary slot these choices fall into is called The Ketogenic Diet. We aren't being ridiculously strict with it, but have initialized the diet to meet each individual's needs. My son needs seizure control but has absolutely NO need to lose an ounce. Therefore it's designed specifically for him to reduce carb intake of sugars, and starches, but allowing a more complex carb input to maintain his weight, and to control his seizures as well. And it's working very well.
My husband Greg needs it as well and it's working wonderfully!            

A very strict Ketogenic Diet requires all carbs cut from one's diet. This is just to severe for my guys, and me being the cook and all things for dietary control, they just really don't get a choice! I do make it as easy of a transition as possible, which means some controlled "cheats", as they are human and need some fun worked in with the frugality of a forced diet.
So, on with these delicious roll ups!

Gluten Free Pastrami Reuben Rollups                      Makes 8 rolls

Ingredients:
1 medium head of cabbage
1 lb. excellent pastrami - preferably nitrate free
8 oz. sauerkraut - drained very well
8-16 slices Swiss Cheese - depending on how much cheese you like
very thin slices of dill pickles - optional

*Reuben Sauce:
1 cup Best Foods Mayonnaise
1/4 cup ketchup
2-3 Tablespoons sweet or dill pickle relish
2-3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

*mustard could be used instead of this sauce - it's your preference

Method:
1. Cabbage: De-core the cabbage head and discard the core and the outer leaves. Rinse the cabbage head and place on a microwavable plate. Microwave uncovered 5-6 minutes on high. This will soften the leaves just enough so you can roll them. This will do for about the first three or four leaves, then repeat for additional leaves. You don't want to "bake" the cabbage, just soften some leaves. They peel away very easily and are intact as a whole leaf if microwaved long enough, so you may need to add a minute or two to the cooking time. If you wish you can trim the heavier thick stem part from the leaves.

2. Sauerkraut: Drain the kraut in a fine mesh sieve, pressing with a spoon to drain as much liquid as possible. Then sear it very dry in a skillet over high heat (you don't need any oil), turning occasionally with a spatula.

Assembly:
3. Setup an assembly line as follows:  

8 whole cabbage leaves, 
pastrami, 
swiss cheese, 
sauerkraut, 
sauce
dill pickle slices - optional

4. Onto each softened leaf place about 2 ounces of pastrami,

one to two slices of swiss cheese, 

a generous dollop of sauerkraut, reuben sauce, and pickle slices if you wish. 

Tuck the ends in over all of the filling and roll them up like burritos or egg rolls. 

Place seam side down onto plates or a platter and return to the microwave. Heat them for one to one and a half minutes - this helps to melt the cheese and make them hot and tasty. Serve any extra sauce for delectable dipping.

Serve them up and enjoy!