Thanksgiving Goulash

Here is the story:

Thanksgiving 1975 I spent with the Siemens family, my first holiday away from MY family, the first time I met some of the relatives, the first time I spent a longer period of time with those who would be my future in-laws.  I remember taking scalloped oysters and sweet potatoes to the noon meal, my traditional food contributions.  At the end of the day Gary asked me what I thought of the family, the meal, the entire day.  My only question was "Why goulash?" which had never appeared on my grandmother's traditional Thanksgiving menu.  His response?  "Doesn't everyone have goulash on Thanksgiving?"  Well, no.  It was a first for me.

The next year we went to Beloit for Thanksgiving at Grandma's and I was so excited to share the traditional Thanksgiving meal with him-turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls with real butter, cranberry salad, scalloped oysters, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, raisin pie, apple pie.  Yum Yum!  Then Aunt Joretta walked in and announced "Happy Thanksgiving!  I have my taco salad!"

And Gary just looked at me.  He said "Taco salad? Traditional dish for Thanksgiving, huh?"

Well, I found that the Siemens goulash was not only a Thanksgiving dish; it was a dish prepared for every holiday and more.  That goulash popped up everywhere and always graced the table at Thanksgiving.  Agnes didn't have a recipe, but she always used ketchup as the tomato base of the dish.  Never has the goulash I have made tasted quite like hers.

Fast forward to 10 years ago.   2006.  Since I had a long break Thanksgiving week and it IS my favorite holiday, I offered to host the family dinner at our house and Agnes jumped at the change in locations.  She had had some health issues that summer and was more than happy to pass off the prep work to me.

Now was my chance!  Traditional menu.  Sit down meal which we never did at their house.  Little ornament gifts for the ladies in the family to adorn their trees.  I was so excited.

After the meal Leo told me that everything was really good.  One thing was missing though.  Goulash.  My response was that I didn't make goulash, especially for Thanksgiving.   So there!  I was nice about it, but I wasn't going to include it on the menu.

The next year.  Same thing.  No goulash.

The next year.  Agnes was bringing deviled eggs, pumpkin pies, and the relish trays.  When they walked into the house at 10:00 a.m. I could hear Leo asking for a hot pad. As I grabbed one, I thought "Wait a minute!  Deviled eggs.  Relish tray.  Pumpkin pies.  Hot pad?"  Something didn't fit there.

Goulash.  Yep, there it was.  A casserole dish of goulash.

That was the one year that goulash was added to the menu at our house. It could have been served the year we were at Disney World for Thanksgiving...not sure.

As Jim was talking with us on Friday after Agnes died, the story of the goulash surfaced.  He mentioned it in his funeral tribute to her.  As the menu was reviewed once again for Thanksgiving, goulash was added in.  I don't know how to make it with tomato juice, and neither does anyone else since Agnes never used a recipe, but Karen is going to attempt to replicate that traditional dish for all Siemens family holidays.

I had to smile when I read Jim's thank you note for the honorarium we sent him in appreciation for his visits, the funeral message, and arranging the luncheon.  At the end, after his signature, he wrote, "Enjoy the Siemens goulash for Thanksgiving!"

Agnes and Leo will be smiling down on us this year for sure.  Goulash has returned!