Dad's Hungarian Beef Goulash

Servings:  6

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 T cooking oil
2 medium carrots, bias-sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups beef broth
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 T paprika
1 t finely shredded lemon peel
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 bay leaf

Instructions:
1. In a large skillet brown beef, half at a time, in hot oil. Drain off fat.

2. Transfer meat to a 3 1/2 to 4 quart crockery cooker. Add carrots, onions and garlic. In a small bowl combine beef broth, tomato paste, paprika, lemon peel, salt, pepper and bay leaf. Stir into vegetable-meat mixture.

3. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 9 1/2 to 11 1/2 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.

4. If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. Stir in sweet pepper strips. Cover and cook 30 minutes longer on high-heat setting. Discard Bay leaf. Serve with hot cooked noodles.