Shane and I enjoyed a 6.25 mile run this beautiful Fall morning.  It was cool out side but I forgot to check the temperature before leaving.  Since I didn’t want to run alone and Shane wasn’t eating well this week, I didn’t want to make him go too far.  So I thought…”Okay.  We’ll run for 60 minutes and what ever that turns out to be mileage wise will do for today.   Jokes on me because when we got home, Shane wanted to go outside again and play Frisbee! 

About 10 minutes after getting back from our run, the side door opens.  It was Ted, who was suppose to be at breakfast with his buds.  A deer hit the car. Bummer!  Bummer for the poor deer and bummer for our car!    It was a crappy start to hiso/ur morning.

It seemed like a long day today and mid way through, when I began to plan for dinner, I had no imagination, no idea what to make.  When you can’t think of anything gourmet-ish or fancy for dinner, and you want something easy and  quick, think GOULASH!  It’s fun to make because it’s a “through it all in” dish.  Traditionally, it is a stew.  We are all familiar with “Hungarian Goulash”.  That classic version offers beef mixed with paprika, tomatoes, and green peppers.   My version omitted the green peppers and I used a homemade Marinara based on my special Mrs.. K’s Spaghetti Sauce Recipe  less the meat in the Marinara.

DSC_1671-1

Grab It Goulash – serves 10 – 12

  • 2 lb Hamburger
  • 8 oz Elbow Macaroni
  • 1 TBS olive oil
  • 1 onion – chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic – fine chopped
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 14 oz can green beans – drained
  • 11 oz can corn – drained (I used Mexican Corn…probably not available in Budapest?!  )
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups Marinara Sauce (you can add canned diced tomatoes if preferred)
  • 1 to 2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce

NOTE:  You can make this in one large pot.  Since I was making a lot and Ted is the only one (unless Teddy comes over) who eats meat, I made it to separate into 2 containers so one could be frozen for a later date. Yes, it does freeze well for up to 1 month.

Follow directions on the box of Elbow Macaroni to cook al dente.  

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Add the beans and corn to a large casserole dish.

DSC_1631

Heat a skillet over medium high and cook your hamburger until just browned.  Drain all fat and add to the casserole dish holding the beans and corn.

DSC_1633

Mix in the cooked macaroni, the paprika, salt and pepper to taste, the Marinara sauce and the Worcestershire sauce.

DSC_1634

Heat olive oil in skillet over medium high heat and add the onions.  Cook 4 minutes then add the garlic. 

DSC_1632

Remove and add to the mixture in your casserole dish.  Mix all together really well. 

DSC_1637

Cover and place in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes to heat through.  * I covered the dish, put into the refrigerator and simply heated through (adding 10 more minutes) at dinner time.   Tasty, easy and satisfying.  Goulash is always a hit with adults and kids.

DSC_1672 I served the Goulash with Rice Tortillas toasted with hummus spread and topped with cheese.  Ted enjoyed the Sharp Cheddar.  We also had a Parmesan topped hummus tortilla.  Finally, my favorite, a tortilla spread with hummus and topped with Feta.  I put them under the broiler for about 2 1/2 minutes just to melt the cheese and bring out the flavor of the hummus.

MOVIE REVIEW:

DSC_1627 Great movie. Funny and classic Sandra Bullock.  I’m a fan!  She plays a hard core Publishing Executive threatened with a disciplinary action of being deported back to Canada.  A spur of the moment decision to save herself puts her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) in quite a tight spot.  He makes the best of it and ….well, you can guess the outcome but it’s all the fun stuff in the middle that makes this movie so good.

Joanne

Print Friendly, PDF & Email