Shirley's Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls

Over the years I have had the honor of eating many wonderful meals at my mother-in-law’s home. Shirley makes the best Challah bread and shared the recipe with me many years ago. It is on this blog, and if you haven’t tried it you are missing out on something special.

My husband says his mom’s apple pie recipe is even better than mine—I’m jealous.

Here is another of her great recipes that I have made for years and it is one of our favorites. It’s Shirley’s chicken soup with matzo balls. It can be made using roasted chicken from your local supermarket or you can roast it yourself in the oven or crock pot.

Since today has been a rainy day, I thought it was the perfect day for chicken soup.

Ingredients:

4 cups of cooked cubed chicken

2 quarts (8 cups) chicken broth

4 celery ribs chopped including leaves

1 medium chopped onion

4 cloves crushed garlic

4 chopped carrots

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

2 packages Matzo Ball mix (May be purchased at your local grocery store in the kosher food section. You will need eggs and oil for this recipe.)

Directions:

Skin chicken and pick 4 cups of meat from the bones. Set aside. Clean and chop vegetables and place in crock pot or stew pot along with broth and cook until vegetables are tender. Add chicken and correct seasoning.

Follow recipe for Matzo balls on the package and place mixture in refrigerator for about fifteen minutes. Wet hands and shape batter into balls by tablespoons full and drop into simmering broth. The matzo balls will float to the top. Simmer about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with more fresh chopped parsley. Serve while hot. You’re going to love it.

Challah on Friday

Yesterday my three year old granddaughter came to visit. The plan was to make Challah. I had everything set up including: an apron, a three-step-ladder, bowl, measuring spoons, cups, and ingredients.

She entered with a flourish with one arm in a sleeve and one out. I asked if I could help her put the other arm in and she said, "No."

"Oh are you making a fashion statement?" I asked.

"Yes," she said. "I'm going to a party. Could I wear your princess sarong?"

Well, truthfully I'm not sure what a sarong is, but she settled for a fancy wrap. After she was regally wrapped, I asked, "Would you like to wear this fancy apron with the roses on it so that you won't mess up your sarong?"

"No, thank you. You can wear the apron," she said using her princess voice.

So the royal cook measured out the ingredients and the princess did as little as possible--she was really staying in character. But she did dump in some ingredients and stir a little. She was much better at painting while I did most of the work. Try this recipe with your princess or prince. Hopefully you will have better luck. But as in the story "The Little Red Hen" I am sure they will be happy to eat the finished bread.

Challah

Makes 3 braided loaves. Bake at 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

2 packages yeast
1/2 cup warm water

1 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. honey
5 Tbsp. butter
1 1/2 cups hot water
7 cups flour
4 eggs

Mix yeast and lukewarm water in a small bowl until foamy.

In a large mixing bowl, combine salt through butter with the hot water. When the water has cooled to lukewarm, add 3 eggs and 1 egg white to the water. Save one egg yolk in a cup for a wash at the end of the process. Add the yeast mixture and the flour one cup at a time. Turn out on a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Roll into a ball and place in a large oiled bowl. Cover and let rise until double about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down and cut into 3 pieces. Cover and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Cut each ball into three pieces and shape into long ropes. Braid, tucking the pieces together at the ends. Repeat for other 2 loaves. Place the braided loaves on two greased cookie sheets, or place two loaves on one sheet and the other in a loaf pan. This will be great later for sandwiches or French toast. Let loaves rest covered with a towel until double, about 45 minutes. Mix two tablespoons of water into the egg yolk that you saved. Gently brush loaves with egg wash. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds if you wish or leave them plain. Bake 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. It makes 3 lovely loaves and you will certainly impress your guests and family. Don't forget the prince and/or princess. You can make these into small loaves too.