Hungarian Beef Goulash

2 pounds beef stew meat

2 teaspoons caraway seeds

1 1/2-2 tablespoons sweet or hot paprika

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

      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.

     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.

    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.

I have never made this before and it's not an original recipe. This is from Eating Well and it was delicious.

Dutch Apple Cranberry Pie

1 ready-made pie crust

5 1/2 cups cooking apples (peeled, cored and sliced) – I used Cortland this time

1 cup cranberries

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

¼ cup tablespoons flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/2  cup oats

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/3 cup butter  softened

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Fit pie crust into pie plate.

3. In a large bowl, mix sliced apples, cranberries, lemon juice, sugars, flour, cinnamon. Pile into crust.

4. Prepare topping: In a medium bowl mix flour, oats, sugar and butter until coarsely crumbled. Sprinkle evenly over apples.

5. Bake at 375°F for 50 minutes.

(If your crust gets too brown early on, cover the edges of the pie crust with tin foil and continue baking)


I did try and incorporate chopped cranberries in the topping, but they got too well done, so I would not recommend it...other than that - this is a damned good pie.