TPG Blog #15: Eyeliner - Who Is In Charge of Style? & Mom's Memphis Hamburger Goulash Recipe

This picture, although a bit out of focus, is one of my favorites.  Taken from the back seat to the front seat of our 1982 Chevrolet K5 Blazer, here we both were:  driving off into the sunset.  Marry your best friend – it will work out, I promise you.

But listen, let’s take note of something and pay it homage – late 1980’s eyeliner pencil in cobalt blue.  That’s right.  I found this picture a few weeks ago and marched right to the bathroom mirror to recreate this look.  And I wore it all day – at home, on Judy Avenue on a random Tuesday.  When and why on God’s green earth did cobalt blue eyeliner go “out” of style?  I can accept phasing out the green and white striped rugby long-sleeve with the turned-up collar, even the chunky white earrings and big, hair-sprayed hair.  But this eyeliner was a sweet look:  it made the whites look whiter and the blue look more blue. Remember?

I come from a long line of stylish, female role models.  My mom and grandmothers were always put together – hair, makeup, stylish outfits, creative.  Mimi’s Irish advice if you weren’t feeling well was to “get up, take a shower and put some lipstick on – you’ll feel better.”   Our daughter truly has the gift of style and although my mom passed away before she was born, I know it’s from her.   As I would be urging our 7-year-old to just put on jean shorts and a t-shirt and let’s go, I would hear my mom’s voice saying to be patient – great style takes time to come together.  I’m more of a “copy what I see on someone else” type so I’m sure there was a person in the ‘80’s from which I copied the application of eyeliner pencil initially.  If it was you, please step forward – I’m bringing it back!  Anyone with me? Anyone?

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Our house was full of nocturnal, college-age kids during the holidays – so good and so loud all at the exact same time!  I would cook, they would eat like locusts, I would clean the kitchen, and in 60-90 minutes, I would hear rustling in the kitchen and a “what’s for lunch?” between cupboards opening and the rustle of snack bags and milk going down like we had a cow on the premise ready to refill the 5 - ½ gallon containers that had vanished.  Lunch?  You want a second meal?  Today?

In this week-long frenzy, all that they specifically asked for was this goulash – made when they were little on days that weren’t so great.  On those days I would say “some days are better than others” as my mom had said to me and I guess making her recipe was a nod to her, ever so stylish even in the kitchen.  Generational comfort food – it doesn’t get much better.  We loved having them home and I made another batch on the day that they left and the house was quiet again.  

Memphis Hamburger Goulash

1 ½ lbs. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1 Tbsp salad oil

1 cup elbow macaroni, cooked

1 - 20 oz can stewed tomatoes

1 – 16 oz can kidney beans

2 – 8 oz cans tomato sauce

1 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 cup cubed cheddar cheese 

Sauté beef and onion in oil. In another pan, cook macaroni in boiling, salted water until tender.  Drain and add to meat mixture with stewed tomatoes, kidney beans and tomato sauce.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add cheese.  Cover and simmer slowly for about 20 minutes.   Serves 6.

Let’s cheer for each other and say “YES” to the eyeliner forever. It’s what we do, you know.

xoxo

Kelly

P.S.  This Sunday is the Super Bowl - here is the link to Roger Staubach's Chili Recipe, Blog #8, posted last year.

Cheers, stylish friend!