Tag Archives: Family dinner

Chuck Wagon Chili

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Chuck Wagon Chili
Serves Eight
3 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sea salt
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
4 medium white onions chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
2 tablespoons tomato paste
28 ounces canned whole tomatoes with juice
2 cups coffee
2 bay leaves
Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven. Season beef cubes with salt and pepper. Brown the beef cubes in batches in the dutch oven and remove and place in bowl to the side. Add onions and garlic to the remaining oil in the dutch oven and saute under softened , about 8-10 minutes. Once the onions are softened add cumin, brown sugar, cayenne, cloves, cinnamon, red pepper flakes and cocoa powder and stir well. Cook for 1 -2 minutes until fragrant. Put the browned meat back into the pot and then add the tomato paste, tomatoes , coffee and bay leaves stir again and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer , covered for 2 hours, until meat is fork tender. Serve warm in big bowls.

Grandma’s Beef Goulash

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As we move further into fall, the winds pick up over the water by the bay. It becomes time for meals that are slowly cooked at the stove and shared with family. One of my childhood favorites is my grandmother’s goulash. She was born in Austria and a wonderful cook. I grew up watching her cook for hours.  Unfortunately, I never took notes and she had just a few things written down, mostly for baking and just ingredients. I had bits and pieces of recipes from my memories and those of my family. I tried often to recreate grandma’s goulash recipe and it always fell slightly short. It wasn’t until my mom remembered that grandma added a large piece of lemon zest right before serving and oh I think she added a little cognac to the stock in the beginning of the recipe that I finally hit the mark.  I admit, I have tweaked the recipe a little more, but only for the better. I don’t think grandma would mind at all. With the bar held so high, when I pleased the family, I knew I finally had it right! So it’s with great pleasure that I share this dish. Guten Appetit!

 

blog goulash

Beef Goulash

Serves 4-6

4 tablespoon olive oil

2 ½ lbs cubed beef stew meat

¼ cup flour

1 tablespoon sweet paprika

4 cups onions finely chopped

1 tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon caraway seeds, toasted

1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

4 cups chicken stock

1 tablespoon cognac

1 teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

Zest of 1 lemon

Directions

Mix flour, salt, pepper and paprika in a sealed plastic bag. Add beef cubes into bag and coated with flour mixture. In a large Dutch oven heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sauté floured beef cubes until browned. Remove browned meat into bowl and place aside. Add remaining olive oil to pan and sauté the onions with the sugar until onions start to caramelized. Add the caraway seed, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Sauté until fragrant about one minute. Add the tomatoe paste. Deglaze with the vinegar and stock , then add the meat. Bring to a boil, then lower heat , cover and simmer until very tender, approximately 2 hours. Add one tablespoon cognac and simmer another ten minutes. Remove from heat add lemon zest and serve with noodles, rice or dumplings!