goulash (Hartig family recipe)

3 big Spanish onions
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 lbs sirloin tip roast
salt and pepper to taste
1 large can stewed tomatoes, optional
red wine vinegar, optional
2-3 t sweet paprika
1-2 t hot paprika
olive oil

In a large heavy stewpot, cook onions in a little olive oil on medium high, adding garlic after a few minutes. Meanwhile rinse the meat, and cut it into medium-large cubes, add it to the onions once they begin to brown. Add salt and pepper (to taste?) and cook on high until meat begins to give off juices. Add tomatoes (not drained), then paprika and enough water to cover the meat. You may want to add a couple splashes of red wine vinegar. Bring to a boil, then cover and lower heat. Simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender. Uncover as needed to reach desired consistency.

smothered beef ribs

1/2 c olive oil
4 pounds beef short ribs (or flanken)
salt and pepper to taste
1 c all-purpose flour
2 c chopped onions
1 c chopped celery
1 c chopped carrots
2 T minced garlic
3 bay leaves
1 T dried thyme
1 c red wine
8 c beef stock
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Season the ribs with salt and pepper to taste and dredge them in flour. Fry the ribs in the oil in small batches, adding oil as needed, to sear the meat. This should take 2-3 minutes per batch. Set ribs aside.

In the same pot, add the onions and saute for 2 minutes. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 1 more minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and then stir in the garlic, bay leaves, and thyme and cook for 1 more minute.

Deglaze the pot with red wine, scraping up all the bits on the bottom. Add the stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer. Add the ribs and continue to simmer for 2 hours, until the sauce thickens. Stir in the parsley and serve.

white bean and asparagus salad

1 lb medium asparagus, trimmed
1/4 c extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 t finely grated fresh lemon zest
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
2 (15-19oz) cans white beans, drained and rinsed well (3 - 3 1/2 cups)
4 slices country bread
1/2 c shaved parmesan
1/4 c chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 T unsalted butter, softened
1 garlic clove, halved crosswise

Cut asparagus on a diagonal into 1/8-inch thick slices. Bring oil, lemon zest, juice, salt, and pepper to a simmer in a 4-quart heavy saucepan, then stir in beans and asparagus. Remove from heat and let stand, uncovered, 10 minutes. While beans stand, toast bread until golden. Add cheese shavings to beans along with parsley, then toss.

Spread hot toast with butter and rub buttered side of each with cut side of garlic clove, then season with salt and halve. Serve bean salad with toasts.

lemon olive-oil cake

3/4 c olive oil (extra-virgin if desired), plus additional for greasing pan
1 large lemon
1 c cake flour (not self-rising)
5 large eggs, separated, reserving 1 white for another use
3/4 c sugar plus extra for the top

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350øF. Grease springform pan with some oil, then line bottom with a round of parchment paper. Oil parchment.

Finely grate enough lemon zest to measure 1 1/2 teaspoons and whisk together with flour. Halve lemon, then squeeze and reserve 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Beat together yolks and 1/2 c sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and add olive oil (3/4 c) and reserved lemon juice, beating until just combined (mixture may appear separated. Using a wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture (do not beat) until just combined.

Beat egg whites (from 4 eggs) with 1/2 teaspoon salt in another large bowl with cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until foamy, then add 1/4 c sugar a little at a time, beating, and continue to beat until egg whites just hold soft peaks, about 3 minutes. Gently fold one third of the whites into yolk mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.

Transfer batter to springform pan and gentle rap against work surface once or twice to release any air bubbles. Sprinkle top evenly with about a tablespoon and a half of sugar (preferably coarse-grained).

Bake until puffed and golden and a wooden pick or skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes, and then run a thin knife around edge of pan and remove side of pan. Cool cake to room temperature, about 1 1/4 hours. Remove bottom of pan and peel off parchment, then transfer cake to a serving plate.

Cake can be made 1 day ahead and wrapped well or stored in a cake keeper at room temperature.