Goulash. This Girl's Official Comfort Food.

Everyone has that food that makes them think of home. It fills your senses, brings back memories, and puts you in a happy place. For me, that food is goulash. For those who aren't sure what I am talking about, let me start off by saying I am not at all talking about Hungarian goulash. I am talking about the American version. You Yankee readers from up north of the Mason-Dixon line, I've heard refer to it as "American chop suey." Please stop trying to fancy up what us Southerner's have been doing just fine all along. ;)

The dish I am talking about is easy and comforting, warm, filling and delicious. It takes few ingredients, and can be made in a hurry -or- to let flavors meld and build, the sauce can be kept on a low simmer or in a slow cooker all day.
You will need:
1 lb. Ground Beef (Leaner is always better!)
1 box of Pasta (we always use sea-shell pasta)
1 can of Diced or Stewed Tomatoes (I love the fire-roasted ones)
1 can of Dark Red Kidney Beans (mmm...I love beans)
1 Onion (as almost always, I use a sweet vidalia onion)
4 Tbsp Butter/Margarine
3 Tbsp flour
1 Beef Bullion Cube (crushed)
Chilli Powder
Paprika
Salt
Pepper (Unless you have parents like mine who don't like it, so leave it out.)

Get a nice big pot of water boiling and start your pasta to cooking while you're making the sauce.
Start off with the butter and onion in a pan. Saute until translucent. Next, dump in that crushed beef bullion cube and follow with the ground beef. Cook until it has just browned, then throw in your flour and mix well. The ground beef and onions in the flour should have soaked up the majority of liquid and oil left in the pan. Now, add in your tomatoes and mix well. Let it cook a couple minutes, then add in your beans.  Follow your beans with your spices. I add quite a bit of paprika to my goulash, but as with most spices, I really think its a "to taste" sort of thing. Where as for my parents, a shake or two would be sufficient, for me, I need much more. I love the smoky flavor that paprika adds to food. And chilli powder is a must. If I were to estimate, I'd say 2 tsp of chilli powder, 1 Tbsp paprika for my Goulash. Add salt and pepper to taste as well.
Drain your pasta, then coat it well in the sauce you've made. Traditionally, in my family, you eat this with buttered saltine crackers.
If you've never had it, its something easy and delicious that I highly recommend. :)