Food News, with Amanda Killelea

THIS month's winners of our popular Menu Master Mike competition are Jack and Helen Ainsworth.

Their traditional version of beef goulash is an ideal winter warming dish for when those cold, dark nights draw in.

It is a firm favourite with all the family and an ideal dish to cook up when friends come round for supper.

Mr Ainsworth said: "My wife Helen is Czech and her parents were Hungarian so this is a traditional Hungarian recipe.

"Years ago this is the dish that was served up to the peasants of Hungary when they were working out in the fields."

Our judge, Mike Tighe, of Whittaker's Butchers, said: "It was a close call this month as to which recipe I would pick because the standard has been fantastic.

"But I thought the goulash would be good as a warming dish now that the days and nights are getting colder."

Jack and Helen, of Pendle Drive, Blackburn, have been rewarded for their super recipe with a £10 meat voucher and a bottle of wine from Whittaker's Butchers, on Blackburn three-day market.

If you have a recipe that you want to share with Evening Telegraph readers - and be in with a chance of winning a bottle of wine and a meat voucher - either take your entry into Whittaker's Butchers or send it to Menu Master Mike, Food News, Editorial, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn, BB1 1HT.

JACK AND HELEN'S BEEF GOULASH (Serves two)

1/2 lb braising steak

1/4 lb onions

1 teaspoon ground paprika

salt (to taste)

1 red paprika

1 lb potatoes

1 pinch powdered caraway seeds

2 medium sized tomatoes

2 oz fat (lard) or equivalent oil

CUT meat into small pieces, cut onions into small pieces and put into saucepan with lard/oil and fry until soft.

Add meat, ground paprika, caraway seeds and salt, stir until meat juice appears.

Pour in a small amount of hot water until meat is covered. Keep water level just covering meat.

When meat is half cooked, add sliced red paprika and sliced tomatoes.

When meat is cooked add cut up potatoes.

Cook on medium heat until potatoes are cooked.

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