HUNGARIAN BEEF GOULASH AND SPAETZLE

Steps:

• GOULASH:.
• In a large heavy pot over medium heat add the bacon and fry for about 5 minutes until crisp and remove to paper towel and reserve.
• Sauté the onions and sugar until caramelized.
• Add the garlic and caraway seed.
• Cook for one minute.
• Add the sweet paprika, thyme(if using), marjoram(if using), and bay leaf.
• Sauté another minute, until fragrant.
• Add the tomatoes, red peppers, and 3 cups of broth.
• Bring to a boil and then simmer 10 minutes.
• Remove bay leaf.
• In a Dutch oven, add the oil and sauté the beef and brown evenly on all sides, turning with tongs; season generously with salt and pepper.
• While beef is searing, sprinkle the flour evenly in the pot and continue to stir to dissolve any clumps.
• Deglaze with vinegar and the remaining broth.
• Pour the contents of the other pan into Dutch oven and bring to a boil, then lower to simmer and cook about 1-1/2 hours until very tender, stirring occasionally.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Remove from heat and stir the sour cream into the goulash just before serving.
• Garnish with chopped parsley and broken pieces of crispy bacon.
• Serve with freshly made spaetzle.
• SPAETZLE:.
• In a small bowl, beat together the egg yolks, egg and milk.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and mix with hand until well blended.
• Do not overmix at this stage.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate.
• Allow the batter to rest for at least 1 hours.
• Bring salted water to a boil.
• Place the batter on the end of a cutting board and cut small slices of batter into the water.
• Cook for 4-5 minutes, until done.
• Transfer cooked spaetzle to a bowl, with a strainer.
• OR (edited 02/26/06)Place a perforated hotel pan on on top of the pot. Place the batter on the pan and force it through the holes to form spaetzles. Cook 4-5 minutes. Transfer the spaetzle to a different bowl with a strainer.
• Over high heat, place a large sauté pan until it gets very hot.
• Add butter and the boiled spaetzle.
• Sauté until golden.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve with the goulash all in one large platter(the spaetzle all round and the goulash in the middle) sprinkle with a generous amount of parsley, over the goulash as well as the spaetzle.
• Serve with warm loaf of bread so as to sop up all that yummy gravy.