Goulash

My dad would whip this up for a weeknight Bucket Meal. Simple and delicious was the name of the game when we were growing up. Dad worked first shift so he was getting home from work about when my sisters and I were getting home from school. We were all Starving by 3:30! Dad and I would shuffle off to the Market Basket and pick up the ingredients and within the hour we were shoveling a lovely pasta dish into our gaping maws. I have kicked up the ingredients a little since I have grown up but the recipe is quick, easy and Oh so cheap! Ok Kiddies, Here we go.

1 lb box of Noodles. I like Elbows or Pipettes/ Something to really grab the sauce.

3 cans of Spagetti Sauce

1 Container Of Riccotta, Whole Milk Please.

1 Medium Onion, Rough Dice

1 Green Pepper, Rough Dice

1 Red Pepper, Same Shizzle Por Favor

Garlic. Lots and Lots of Garlic. ( I use pre chopped
in Olive oil cuz I am a Lazy Mo' Fo')

1 Package Sliced Portabella Mushrooms

1 Package (1 1 1/2 lb) Ground Beef (I like a Meatball Mix, beef, pork and veal) Whatever you'd normally use for a meat sauce.

Olive Oil and veggi oil

Buttah

Various Cheeses.

Get out a large lidded pot and put some water on to boil. While the water is getting all warmed up start dicing. Onions and Peppers. A nice chunky chop. Nothing tiny. We're doing it dirty up in this piece. Get a Big ass skillet. Get a medium flame going, 3 tablespoons of Olive Oil in the pan and a chunk (tablespoon) of pretty pretty buttah and lay it on in there. Swirl everything around and toss in the onions, peppers and 2 tablespoons of Garlic. I like my garlic. You don't have to use as much as me. Sweat them for a few solid minutes then toss in the mushroom slices and add 2 healthy pinches of kosher salt. Lid that bitch and get back to the bublly pot right next store!

The water should be boiling a niiiiiice rolling boil. Pour in three good gulgs of Veggi oil. Crack that box o'crispy critters open and pour the noodles in the water and give em a swish. Lid that bitch but not too tight or you'll boil over, crack it like a plumber.

Get them Vegables outta that hot ass pan YO! Just put them in a dish and set them to the side. Next is MMMEEEEEAT! Toss your ground up meats into that pan and smoosh em around with a fork until you get what's called 'Loose Meat'.

HAHAHA, I know, I know......

It's an Upper PA thing.


It's really just meat thats not in a patty form. Like what you'd use in a meat sauce. (Us Upper PA folks flavor it and put it on a roll and call it a loose meat sandwich.)

ANYWAY, Holy sidetrack Batman.

Once it's all brown shut off the burner and do not touch that pan for at least 5 minutes. They say meat needs to rest, I say Let Ground Meats Rest Too.

Now your noodlies should be Al dente. Fish one out and do a test. DO NOT TOSS IT AT YOUR WALL. That just leaves oily, starchy water trails that you have to clean up later. Bite it. Chew it. Taste it. Is it where you like your pasta? I believe Al Dente is a myth.

Al Dente is in the mouth of the biter.

Drain your Noodlies and toss em back in the pan. Take your veggies and give them a quick drain, then toss em in the pan with your noodlies. Open up one can of sauce and swirl the noodlies, veggables and sauce around so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan.

Now drain the meat and toss it in with the rest of the stuff and one more can of sauce. Swirl, swish and toss!

Add 1/4 cupish of riccotta. If you like more do it to it Homes. Salt, pepper, basil (fresh,dried or not at all), EYE talian seasoning and just a wee bit o'red pepper flake to taste.

Give it another few swirls and fire up the heat again. A nice low heat just to get everything all cozy and lovey dovey. Lid that bitch and make a salad, or some garlic breads or just get a bowl and hover above the pot until everything is is alllllll ooooooowy gooooooooooooey and lovey dovey.

Now for the BESTEST PART. Getcho a scoop o'that shizzle! Careful it's hot.

It's even better tomorow. Which is a good thing cuz you just made a fuckin' Bucket O'Food!