土豆烧熟了，再加牛肉

        你还记得初中课文里的毛主席诗词《念奴娇·鸟儿问答》，有一句“还有吃的，土豆烧熟了，再加牛肉。” 当时怎么也想像不出，这东西有什么好吃的。如果说“还有吃的，红烧肉一盘“，那还会觉得共产主义真不错。当时心里疑疑惑惑，权且当作它是个好吃的东西吧。
        直到后来嫁给了一个3/4 的德国人，才明白土豆加牛肉是个什么东西。它是一道匈牙利菜， Goulash，在德国它又叫Gulasch, Rindergulasch or Gulaschsuppe 。忙让我不太正宗的德国丈夫烧来让我尝尝共产主义。味道还不错。如果当时毛主席真的尝过，他老人家不见得会如此鄙视它，”不须放屁“。他老人家从未说过如此鄙俗的话。我把Goulash摘录在此，一是想给他正个名，二是让大伙实现一下共产主义。

注：请在资本主义寒冷的冬天享受这道菜，否则。。。

Gulasch
serves 7-8

800 g beef, in small cubes
2 onions, in small dice
5-6 cloves of garlic, minced
100 g tomato paste
2 litres of hot beef stock
4 bellpeppers (2 red and 2 yellow)
1 kg potatoes, finely diced
paprika
chipotle chili
dried herbs - oregano, thyme, sage, basil
salt
cayenne pepper
cooking oil

Heat up a little bit of oil in a very big pot. Fry the onion and garlic gently. Add the beef, a little at a time, and let it brown. Add the stock - and this should be warm, so it doesn't cool everything down. Add the tomato paste, the peppers and the potatoes, and any spices you want to use.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover with a lid. Let it simmer for at least an hour, and then let it stand and rest for another hour. (Or two, or three - this will just improve the flavor. Indeed, leave it over night if you can!) Heat up right before serving, and serve with aïoli and a good garlic bread.　　　　

Recipe Two:

• 2 pounds beef stew meat (such as chuck), trimmed and cubed
  2 teaspoons caraway seeds
  1 1/2 tablespoons sweet or hot paprika (or a mixture of the two), preferably Hungarian (see Ingredient Note)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1 large or 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium beef broth
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. Place beef in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Crush caraway seeds with the bottom of a saucepan. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in paprika, salt and pepper. Sprinkle the beef with the spice mixture and toss to coat well. Top with onion and bell pepper.

2. Combine tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire sauce and garlic in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer. Pour over the beef and vegetables. Place bay leaves on top. Cover and cook until

the beef is very tender, 4 to 4 1/2 hours on high or 7 to 7 1/2 hours on low.

3. Discard the bay leaves; skim or blot any visible fat from the surface of the stew. Add the cornstarch mixture to the stew and cook on high, stirring 2 or 3 times, until slightly thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley.

Ingredient Note: Paprika specifically labeled as "Hungarian" is worth seeking out for this dish because it delivers a fuller, richer flavor than regular or Spanish paprika. Find it at specialty-foods store or online at HungarianDeli.com and penzeys.com.