Likes: Goulash

I'm realizing this list is quite strange.  I assure you it will get worse!

Goulash is one of my all time favorites.  Often made in the fall/winter in a big, old, black speckled pot handed down from my mother a few moons ago.  One of the things I like best, this recipe is just in my head.  I don't have to look it up or write a list to buy the stuff for it.  I just know.  We've changed it a bit from how my mom made it, we added some from how Jeremy's mom made it and a few other additions to make it our own.

I've heard it called so many things but, this is my family's version of Goulash.

I brown about 1 & 1/2 lbs. ground beef with a diced onion (2 small or one med), and some minced garlic (I keep a jar in the fridge) and drain off the grease.

While my burger is cooking/draining, and my box of elbow macaroni is boiling in salted water, I get out mom's big pot and add, 1 lg. can tomato juice (or Vegetable Juice), 2 large (or 4 small) cans of sliced stewed tomatoes, 2 cans sliced mushrooms drained, and 1 or 2 cans whole kernel corn drained.  And I let that simmer with a few turns of the pepper grinder, while I'm waiting for the pasta.

Add the ground beef to the pot when it's grease free.  Then add the pasta (after draining, of course) and stir with the giant wooden spoon.  I generally buy 2 tomato juices so I can add more as the pasta soaks it up.  I add the 2nd can/bottle at this point.

And now for the trick - as my mom used to say, Add just enough sugar to take out the bitterness from all those tomatoes.  Generally about 1/4 cup.  Stir it again.

Jeremy and I both love this and it's one thing I don't mind eating for lunch and for dinner, yet I do get to a point where I've had enough but, then I'm sad if Jeremy ate the last bowl and didn't save any for me! :(

**This 'recipe' is not for a dutch oven sized pot, it's for more like a soup pot.  If using a shiny metal soup pot, do NOT store this Goulash in that pot - transfer to plastic or glassware.  The acidity of the tomatoes will pit your pot!  It has happened to me!  Put a hole right through my pot!  I use a black enamelware pot which has been cooking/storing Goulash for decades!