Average Jane’s Multi-Named Dinner Recipe

It’s been a long time since I posted a recipe, so I got out my recipe box and started looking through my old family recipes to see what I could share. I ran across a good one that is not only delicious but has an interesting story and a variety of different names.

As a side note: this is the current state of my recipe box. The photo doesn’t even include the big stack of unsorted recipe printouts that sit next to the cookbooks on my baker’s rack. It’s possible I need a new system.

So back to the recipe. Like a lot of the recipes I got from my grandmother, this is from the Depression era. In fact, I remember seeing her original version and it begins, “Take 10 cents’ worth of hamburger…”

My grandmother called the dish “Slumgullion,” although a version of it appears in our family cookbook under the name, “Yummy Yummy Top-of-Stove Casserole.” My mom called it “Goulash,” even though there’s no paprika involved. No matter what you call it, it’s hearty, quick and tasty. I’ll stick with my grandmother’s name for the recipe.

Slumgullion

1 pound of ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
1 can red beans
1/2 cup small shell noodles
1 tbsp. molasses
1/2 to 1 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste

Brown ground beef in a large skillet, draining fat as needed. Add onion, celery, carrot and garlic, and sauté until onion and celery are golden brown. Add frozen vegetables, red beans (no need to drain), molasses and shell noodles. Stir together and add as much water as you need to be able to cook noodles effectively. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until noodles are soft.