Jaj Istenem!

Tuesday is fast approaching …and there will be one extra person by my side this week…he is small, funny, super fast and extremely cheeky. Last week my kids were lucky enough to have their super energetic great, great Aunty Marika and her boyfriend Michael up in Sydney on Grandparent duty (they have way more energy than Max and I put together and way more patience). They were, and are, incredible and they will be missed this week. 

Wilco spent last Monday and Tuesday with them (whilst I was busy at the tuckshop). I didn’t have to worry about him for a second, which was so nice (and a rare treat for us). He was in good hands and I’m not sure who had more fun, them or him? (Aunty Marika is brilliant at looking after the small people in my family) I couldn’t have got through last week without you two. Hurry back soon, we could get used to having you around!

It’s always eventful when they are in town, Michael is always calm and patient, Aunty Marika is another story….she is one of a kind in the nicest possible way and we have almost got her down to fine art, making sure everything runs smoothly….

I don't remember allowing Mr wippy in my house?!

These are the things we’ve learnt over the years about keeping the peace whilst Aunty Marika is in town; after all she is a critic (that’s putting mildly – and her words need to be taken with a grain of salt, which trust me can be hard sometimes!).

Don’t let her into the house unless it’s spotless or you’ll send her into a frenzy and if by some strange reason our house is spotless, don’t let her invite any of her friends over (think Seinfeld, only people with Jewish/Hungarian grandparents will understand what I’m talking about here). Never take her anywhere that plays anything but classical music and never believe her when she says she wants to eat something different, only feed her Hungarian food. All in all she is gold all the way, she just likes things a certain way – her way!

      So this last visit, instead of following my instinct and making goulash, I made  risotto…….doo!doo!…..big mistake!

Here is my Goulash, adapted from all the tips Aunty Marika and Michael gave me over their visit: (Really the way I’ve always made it)

                                                           You’ll need:

                                                              Olive oil

                                                     1 ½ large onion

1kg chuck steak cleaned of fat and cubed

2 tablespoons of sweet paprika

½ -1 teaspoon of hot paprika

1 cup of beef stock or water

3 tomatoes – skin and seeds removed and chopped

1 small red capsicum sliced – seeds removed

1 green capsicum sliced - seeds removed

 To make;

Prep all your ingredients

Pre-heat your oven to 180c

Warm your pot on the stove, add a little oil and brown your onions

Once browned add you paprika and stir with the onions

Then add your meat and stir until all the meat is browned

Add your stock (or water if you don’t have stock) and tomato

Put the lid on your pot and pop in the oven – turning the heat down to 160c

After 2hours pop in the capsicum – stir well

Cook for a further hour

Then serve with nokedli (spaetzle), brown rice or pasta with finely chopped parsley and a big dollop of sour cream.

Aunty Marika and Micheal you both would have loved it! I’m pretty sure dad would have loved it too! (Yes, my dad also has his version)

Any leftovers could be frozen or made into pies – which I did.

When my girls were little, at fox studio’s there was a Russian couple who made a mean goulash pie, mine were equally as delish, the only thing I would change is a dollop of sour cream just before I put the lid on – I forgot, so I added it later.

Re your email Aunty Marika....Frankie would like soup and schnitz with salad for dinner next Saturday, I will drop her to you at 10am.

And Jemima got a B on her piano exam.

Will call you later. X

p.s Don’t forget your booked for Grandparents day!

©Michelle Schoeps 2013

All photos taken by Michelle Schoeps