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Grandma's Goulash

Source of Recipe

From "The Happy Cookbook" by Kathy Doocy and Steve Doocy


Recipe Introduction

"I did not eat 'pasta' until I was thirty years old. That's because where I came from everybody I knew called pasta either 'noodles' or 'macaroni.' I can still hear my mom saying, 'Stephen, bring me a box of macaroni,' to make this very goulash, which was always a crowd-pleaser. When I grew up I decided that if I was going to make Grandma's goulash, I was going to add some booze to it, because wine seems to make many things taste a little better. Pasta, schmasta. Thanks, Grandma! I don't remember us ever having leftovers to put in Mom's Tupperware (which she bought at an actual Tupperware party in the neighbor's living room). But I do remember longing for the day when I'd be old enough to go to a Tupperware party with my friends. It sounded so exotic to a six-year-old kid. A party at the neighbor's house, no kids allowed. How did I know it was really just a bunch of home cooks learning how to burp a plastic box?"

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 1 pound lean ground beef
â—¦ 1 yellow onion, chopped
â—¦ 3 cloves garlic, minced
â—¦ 1 ½ teaspoons salt
â—¦ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
â—¦ One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes (and their juices)
â—¦ One 15-ounce can tomato sauce
â—¦ 1 cup red wine or beef stock
â—¦ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
â—¦ 2 cups elbow macaroni (about half a 16-ounce package)
â—¦ 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
â—¦ ¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
â—¦ Toasted crusty bread, for serving


Recipe

In a large saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, stirring often, until it's about half cooked. Add the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper and sauté until the meat is cooked and the onion is softened, about 10 more minutes. Pour in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine, Worcestershire, and 1 cup water. Stir, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes, until it's almost bubbling.

Add the macaroni and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Do not overcook or the elbows will start falling apart.

Just before serving, stir in the cream cheese and mix until melted and blended. Toss in the Cheddar, give a stir, and serve with the toasted bread.

Makes 6 servings