Family Goulash!

Goulash is a prominently Hungarian dish that has a stew-esque feel to it. Its both tasty and simple.

Backstory: I come from two very different cultures. This also somewhat explains the name. "The asian Schnitzel". Take your guess on the cultures :]. But this is a good family recipe that my father concieved of his own after trying multiple other recipes.

Ingredients

1.5 Onions, diced

2 cloves Garlic, diced

4.5 lbs Stew Beef

3 tbs Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup Flour

1 can Chicken Broth

3 Bay Leaves

2 tsp Paprika

1 tbs Red Wine

1 tbs Ketchup

2 lbs Egg Noodles

White Pepper, Black Pepper, Salt to taste.

Directions

Season Beef with Worcestershire sauce, peppers and salt. Dice onions and garlic. Fry Onions and garlic until brown. When brown, throw meat into pan until browned. After meat has been browned add flour, broth, bay leaves, paprika, red wine and ketchup. Let Goulash simmer in pot for 2-3 hours until meat is soft. Before eating cook the noodles. Serve Warm!

Sehr gut!

Mrs. D's Strawberry Pretzel Bake

A great dessert for all times of the year! Kind of like a dessert lasagna. Delish!

Backstory: When I was a little girl living in our old house we had great English neighbors named the Drury's. Mrs. D was an amazing cook and whenever she babysat myself there would always be something pretty darn tasty to eat. This one she brought to parties and her annual Christmas bash.

Ingredients
1 Large Package Strawberry Jell-o
2 c crushed pretzels
3/4 tbs Margarine
3 tbs Sugar
1 9 oz. tub of Cool whip
1 pkg frozen strawberries
8 oz Cream cheese

Instructions
Mix crushed pretzels, 1 tsp sugar and margarine. Put in baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Cool.

Beat cream cheese and rest of sugar. Stir in cool whip. Spread over cooled pretzels. Dissolve Jell-o according to package directions (use approx 1.5 cups boiling water). Add strawberries. Stir and cool slightly. Pour over top. Chill.

*Rasberries can be substituted.

Citation: Mrs. Drury!

Eggplant Lasagna

Sounds slightly complicated. Yes? No, not really.

Backstory: Basically. I got bored one cold December lunchtime and frozen food wouldn't really do it for me. So out came an eggplant lasagna. (Also there was an eggplant sitting around that needed to be eaten...)

Ingredients
1 Large Eggplant, around 1.5 lbs
3 eggs, beaten
2-3 cups Panko* bread crumbs (more if needed)
-0.5 tsp salt -0.5 tsp black pepper (flavor)
Olive Oil
1/2 A white onion
1 clove garlic
1 can Tomato Paste
1/2 cup Water
2 tsp dried basil (chopped not the leaves)
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tbs Red wine
16 oz Mozzarella cheese, sliced (and get the good stuff, not the blocks)
1.5 cups Parmesan Cheese, grated

Directions:
Wash eggplant throughly and cut into quarter inch think rounds. Dip eggplant slices into beaten eggs then dredge with breadcrumb mix. Heat about a fourth cup of olive oil into a heavy skillet. Fry eggplant on both sides until golden brown and also crispy. When finished put fried slices onto a plate with paper towels to drain. In a saucepan, fry up garlic and onions, when brown add tomato paste and water. When sauce is warm add the basil and oregano (or any other spices of your choice) and red wine. Let simmer. While the sauce is simmering layer the eggplant pieces into a baking dish. Layer half of eggplant, then add sauce, top with half of the mozzarella slices and grated paremesan. Continue in ordered layers until dish is full. Bake at 350 for approximately 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly. If possible for the last 5-7 minutes, broil the dish so the cheese has a chance to brown and crust.
Serve hot and eat!

Sehr gut!


*Panko is Japanese style bread crumbs for those who don't know. They can be easily picked up at an Asian grocery or specialty store. Some upscale grocers might carry them as well in an "Asian section". REGULAR BREADCRUMBS MAY ALSO BE SUBSTITUTED.