Stuffed Grape Leaves

Funny story, a few days before Christmas I was out shopping with my mother, and came across grape leaves in a jar - I'd never seen them in a jar before so I thought I'd give them a try -- thinking they were already stuffed. Surprise, they were NOT stuffed! Ha. So, last night, 12/31/16, my niece and I made stuffed grape leaves ... and they were amazing!!! 

I'd never made them before, and though they didn't all stay tightly folded (my sue chef is rather young, and it was my first time), but they were easy to do and they tasted AMAZING!!!

Here's the recipe I used--> 

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked long-grain rice

1 large onion chopped

1/2 cup fresh dill chopped

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves chopped

2 quarts chicken broth

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

60 grape leaves drained and rinsed

hot water as needed

1 cup olive oil

How to:

Sautee the rice, chopped onion, dill and mint over medium heat for about 5minutes. Add a quarter of the chicken broth and half of the lemon juice and cook for another 10-15 minutes. Laying the grape leaves (veined side up), place a spoonful of rice mixture in the center of the leave. Fold the sides in and roll the leaf up like a little burrito. Place rolled up grape leave in the pan. Once all are rolled an in the pot, add the rest of the chicken both, lemon juice and olive oil. Cook - simmering, making sure not to boil them (or they will very likely fall apart), for about an hour. Remove, let cool, and then munch away.