Mom's Fried Cabbage

Ingredients:

- 1 large head of cabbage, cored, thinly sliced, and rinsed
- 8 oz smoked sausage, sliced into rounds
- 4-6 strips of bacon, chopped (optional)
- 4 hot links sausages, sliced (optional)
- 8-10 large shrimp, peeled and deveined (optional)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet or frying pan, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it's crispy. If using bacon, remove it from the pan and set it aside, leaving the bacon grease in the pan.
2. Add the sliced smoked sausage to the skillet and cook until they are browned on both sides. If using hot links sausages and/or shrimp, cook them in the same skillet until fully cooked. Remove the sausages and shrimp from the pan and set them aside.
3. In the same skillet, add the olive oil. Allow the oil to coat the pan.
4. Add the sliced onions and bell peppers to the skillet. Sauté them over medium heat until they are softened and slightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Add the butter and thinly sliced cabbage to the skillet and toss it with the sautéed onions and peppers. Cook the cabbage for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's wilted and slightly tender.

6. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper over the cabbage. Stir to evenly distribute the spices.
7. Add the cooked smoked sausage, hot links, shrimp (if using), and bacon (if using) back to the skillet. Stir everything together to combine and heat through.
8. Continue to cook the fried cabbage mixture for an additional 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the cabbage to become tender.
9. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, adding more garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, or black pepper to taste.

10. Once the cabbage is cooked to your desired tenderness and the flavors are well combined, remove the skillet from the heat.
11. Serve the fried cabbage with smoked sausage and peppers as a hearty and flavorful side dish.