Ghastly Ghoulash Recipes

HALLOWEEN GROUND MEAT GHOUL-ASH

Steps:

• Char the peppers evenly under a hot broiler, or over an open flame on the stovetop. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic; cool to handle. Peel the peppers and chop.
• Heat the EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, in a large Dutch oven or a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the meat dry and add to the pan. Brown and crumble the meat, then season with the Worcestershire, sweet paprika, hot paprika, rosemary, marjoram and some salt and pepper. Add the garlic and onions, and cook until the onions are tender, another 7 to 8 minutes. Next, add the tomato paste and stir 1 minute. Add the roasted peppers, stock and tomato sauce. Simmer to thicken. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat stirring frequently.
• To serve, heat water to a boil. Salt the water, and cook the egg noodles to al dente. Reserve 1/3 cup of the starchy water and drain. Then return the pasta to the hot pot. Add the butter, parsley and some salt. Toss to combine and melt the butter. Add some starchy water if the noodles begin to stick together.
• Serve the goulash in shallow bowls, nested in the parsley egg noodles, and top with a dollop of creme fraiche.

STUFFED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Using a paring knife, remove center core of cabbage. In a large nonreactive stockpot, bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Add cabbage and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until outer leaves are bright green and tender. Lift cabbage from water, and remove outer leaves. Return cabbage to boiling water, and repeat brief cooking and removal of leaves until all leaves are cooked. Reserve 2 cups cabbage cooking water. Trim thick center vein from bottom of each leaf. Reserve four large outer leaves to line bottom of pan.
• In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook until golden and tender, about 8 minutes. In a large bowl, combine onion mixture, rice, beef, pork, salt, pepper, parsley flakes, green pepper, and celery. Stir to combine.
• Add about 1/3 cup rice filling to one cabbage leaf. Fold sides of cabbage over filling, and, starting with the stem end, roll the cabbage up. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
• Line a 5-quart Dutch oven with reserved outside leaves. Transfer stuffed cabbage leaves to Dutch oven.
• In a large bowl, combine tomato puree and the reserved 2 cups of cabbage cooking water. Pour some of the tomato sauce over cabbage to almost cover. Sprinkle apple over top of cabbage leaves. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce to a gentle simmer; cover. Cook for 1 hour or until cabbage is very tender, adding additional tomato sauce as needed.
• Place sour cream in a small bowl, and ladle in about 3/4 cup of tomato sauce from the cooked stuffed cabbage rolls. Whisk to combine. Add sour cream mixture back to Dutch oven, and stir to combine. Serve with additional sour cream.