Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

Fall coverage along the coast includes my first travel trip since sheltering in March, and I hope you enjoy my coverage. Iam wear masks, washing my hands, using sanitizers and seperating per regulations. I hope you are too and we (the US) can pull out of this terrible pandemic quickly. Below is a great recipe for Hungarian Goulish from a past visit to Budapest - hope you like it!

September is usually a great time for traveling, especially in Europe but since March this has changes considerably. My fall cruise from Paris to Germany is providing stories on special destinations, however, all Viking cruises have been cancelled until 2021. American journalists are rather persona non grata currently but I'm safe and happy working in my own backyard -- a rather amazing backyard since Prince Harry & Megan moved into our neighborhood.

Watch for story on The Bayou Derby - 19th annual benefit for the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission; great auction, food and music at Dos Pueblos Ranch in October 3 but restriction dependent. For information on auction items online or reservations visit (www.sbrm.org).

Major events to support Arthritis Foundation California have been delayed due to the pandemic. Please go to their site and make a donation if you can.

Look for Emmy and Oscar and changes on all entertainment events due to the pandemic restrictions. The Oscars have been moved to Apirl as has the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Charities are do their major fundraisers on line, and meeting are all happening on Zoom. I will miss seeing all my entertainment friends but am happy to shelter to save lives.

I did my first travel since mid-March this month and I'm reporting on new in Central Coast destinations for couples and families doing highway travels to experience get-a-ways. Camping is huge, and sites all along the ocean on the Central Coast were packed when I drove by. See sites for camping sites, RV information and more in Wheels section.

The new Hotel Cerro in SLO provided me an opportunity to expeience their lovely new boutique

hotel in downtown San Luis Obispo and our Hotel/Chef section hs my review, along with information on their lovely SPA which hopefully will be open soon. The chefs' at Hotel Cerro are outstanding and I think you will enjoy my review. The SLO area has access to so many amazing beaches to visit, where an abundance of water activities are abundant. www.hotelcerro.com.

My home-away-from-home visit at Hofsas House story should make you feel safe driving up the highway for a weekend respite. Hosfas House welcomes families and has rooms for pets. Sat by a fire and did some water color art, enjoyed local Carmel-by-the-Sea attractions and totally relaxed in a completely compliant community

Encouraging news report on people in compliance in seaside cities and making sure you are doing all you can. Support your local restaurants by using curb-side dining and take-out. They need our help right now.

We all must continue to pray for our medical professionals on the line who continue working to safe the lives of people with COVID-19 in hospitals through the US and around the world. Also, keep our young men and women fighting in foreign countries on your prayer list. They need our prayers -- they need to come home safely! Pray for world peace. Prayer works!

Support your local restaurants, hotels and business' and let's give America a renewed strength during this pandemic. Congratulations to all the inventive restaurant owners who are working to reinvent their venues for survival move. See story on pandemic restaurant warriors in Culinary Coup section.

Pray for all the people caught in the California wild fire areas, many who have barely recovered from horrid fires in the past two years. Special prayers for my wine friends in Napa.

Creamy Viennese Veal Goulash

The goulash originates from Hungary. When it came to Vienna in the middle of the 19th century, it had little in common with the dish that is so popular in Vienna today: It was a kind of thin soup made of pepper, potatoes, onions and tomatoes. The Viennese cuisine reinvented it into a viscid, spicy and fiery beef dish. For the more noble creamy Viennese veal goulash you will need tender veal and whipped cream for refining.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Cut the meat into bite-size cubes and chop the onions. Heat the oil in a casserole dish and lightly fry the meat. Remove, then saute the onions. Add the tomato paste and paprika powder and pour on the wine. Add the meat and add water so the meat is just covered. Add the bay leaf, salt and pepper and stew for about 1 1/2 hours.
As soon as the meat is tender, remove again with a draining spoon. Remove the bay leaf. Cut the apple into small cubes and add to the goulash, along with the lemon juice and grated lemon rind. Mix in the flour, cream and sour cream. Stir well.
Bring to boil then mix with a hand-held mixer. Strain the liquid and add the meat again, adding salt and pepper to taste.

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