October 2004 Archives

For those of you who don't read my comments as obsessively as I do, Claudia was kind enough to send her gulyas recipe. Gulyas, incidentally, is the Hungarian spelling (minus some little dashes and dots, most likely) for goulash. Here's her recipe (I've left in all the commentary):

Here's how you make the gulyas (the Martha Stewart way, meaning that you get all the ingredients together, all nicely chopped up, in pretty bowls, etc.)

• First, chop one onion (finely)
• then cut one or two bell peppers (red or yellow, but green would do it if you're low on money) into small squares,
• then cut several potatoes into cubes, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch.

• Sautee the onion in oil until it becomes glassy
• then add the peppers, sautee until they become soft
• add the potatoes and cover everything with water (just above the "potato line")
• add salt, pepper, let it boil
• when it boils, add one small can of tomato paste, and one teaspoon (or less) of the hot paprika paste (you can replace with Thai red curry paste, but be careful, it is hot :) )
• add sweet paprika dust(it's in the spice area in the kitchen, a tin box, white and red)
• Boil until the potatoes are done.

Incidentally, I was under the impression that the "Martha Stewart way" now referred to cuisine cooked in institutional quantities.

But the gulyas is the reason why I had three bags of groceries and only spent about $15 -- it's incredibly cheap to make and goes a very very long way. Claudia's fond of reminding me that it's peasant food, after all. Normally, it would have meat in it, but we don't play that at my house, so it's vegan instead, and really really yummy. Claudia cut me off from the gulyas last year sometime. I liked it so much that I suggested it for dinner pretty often, and she'd had way too much of it. I was just getting started.

Now I just need the weather to dip below 80.

Dear Claudia,

I voted early on Friday afternoon, so if I get hit by a bus, my vote will count on November 2nd, and you won't have to blame the downfall of western civilization upon me. The tension is overwhelming with just over a week until the election, and I can't wait for it to be over, for better or for worse.

Catherine was in town for a little over a day, long enough for us to eat Thai food once and sushi once, which is really all one can ask for, isn't it? The cats were glad for an extra set of hands for petting, I think.

I need your recipe for gulyas (how is it spelled, anyway?) desperately. I think I have all the ingredients I need, but I need to be reminded how they get put together. I managed to leave Central Market with three bags of groceries for only around $15, which seemed pretty remarkable to me. It was under construction when you left, I think, and it still is, so everytime I go in there, things have been rearranged, or new walls have been opened up. It's like going to a different store every time. You won't even recognize the place when you get back.

Hugs,
Rachel

A new theme -- one that will hopefully get me to update more often. These are directed, but they aren't really meant to be private. Anyone (Claudia included) should feel free to comment below, if they feel like it.

Dear Claudia,

I tried to write a letter like this a week ago, and my browser crashed, and I took it as a sign at the time, but I'm going to give it one more go.

Do you remember that evening that we drove to Bandera, after a long, carsick day of geodashing? I keep remembering it as I drive through the hill country, which happens a bit more often now than it usually does. Do you remember that one hill we topped just before sunset, and how the earth rolled out in every direction around us, lower hills as far as we could see? As I remember it, the light was beautiful and golden as we drove west, and the hills went on forever, and we both gasped in unison and had this one perfect moment. Do you remember it this way?

I went to Kerrville this past weekend, with a car full of photos, most of them matted, some framed, to a little art show at my grandparents' church. It went pretty well -- I got lots of great feedback and some helpful advice, and I made $75 on print sales, which is, well, better than a kick in the pants. Does this make me a professional, do you think?

Saturday was this gorgeous day, warm and sunny with the bluest sky. I went to a little park at lunchtime, behind an old church that's been converted into a museum or something. As I drove up, I saw three deer standing out in the field. I had my camera, but I didn't bring my long lens, so I didn't get any good pictures, but I had fun sneaking around them trying to get closer, until finally I scared them off. After the show, on my way home, I stopped at this little nature preserve and tromped through the woods to get to the river. In the woods, I saw two jackrabbits, and I wished you could've seen them.

The weather started to cool off for a while, though it's warming up again this week. It's perfect hiking weather. I need to find myself a hiking buddy while you're away; I went to Wild Basin after work one day a few weeks ago and read all the notices about why you shouldn't hike alone because mountain lions might get you. And really, I figured mountain lions were the least of my worries, but I hiked alone anyway.

Which is all to say that it's been quiet around here lately -- I've been talking to the kitties and my camera mostly. The babies miss you, of course. The problem with only having one person in the house is that I only have two hands, and two hands are not enough. Catherine is supposed to spend the night here tomorrow night, so hopefully, she can help me catch them up on the petting. The house is sort of a mess... I hope she'll forgive me.

Hugs,
Rachel