Grandma Zona’s Goulash
My Great Grandmother Arizona knew how to eat cheap while making the dish taste like a 5 star chef made it, and goulash was one of those cheap, delicious dishes. She never measured anything, and nothing went to waste. Goulash was a “clean out the refrigerator” kind of meal, and it’s a perfect way to use up last year’s deer burger. We never knew what kind of goulash we were having for dinner because grandma would add something different every time like corn, peas, or beans.
Venison is tasty when you know how to cook it, and it’s good for you. Venison is a high protein meat with very little fat. Venison gives you a large dose of zinc, which is important for a healthy immune system. It has various B vitamins, which help break down protein, carbs, and fat for energy and assists with red blood cell formation. It’s a good food for people with diabetes because it has zero carbs, and it’s low in calories. It is the ultimate red meat. So use up some of last year’s venison to make freezer space for the big buck in your future.
2 lbs venison or ground beef
1 lb cooked macaroni
2 large onions
10-12 large tomatoes or 3 (15 oz) cans of diced tomatoes
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- In a large skillet, cook tomatoes until soft.
- Add Italian seasoning, garlic salt, pepper, red pepper flakes.
- In another skillet brown burger and onions.
- Add cooked burger to tomato sauce.
- Add cooked macaroni.
- Simmer for 30 minutes adjusting seasoning to taste.
- Serve and top with shredded cheese.
Stacy Schultz is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, a former Morgan County Commissioner and is the author of “It’s Stacy’s Grandma ‘Zona’s recipes.” She has been in healthcare for 35 years at War Memorial Hospital.
