Beef Goulash

Ingredients:

• coarse salt
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 0.25 pounds bacon, chopped
• 1.3 pounds ground beef
• Mixture of 1.5 tsp paprika and 1.5 tsp cumin
• coarse black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 12 fresh chives, chopped
• 0.75 pounds wide egg noodles

Directions:

1. Cook egg noodles according to directions on package
2. In the meantime, heat olive oil in a dutch oven pot, then add bacon and brown it. Drain excess fat, then add beef and break it up with a spatula. Add paprika mixture, salt, pepper, carrots, celery, and red bell peppers. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, then stir in flour and cook 2 minutes more. Add beef stock and sour cream, then simmer over low heat.
3. Mix noodles together with butter and chopped chives. Pour beef mixture over noodles.

Makes 5 servings

Adapted from Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats, page 3