Food

Matzo Ball Soup is not just for Passover

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Matzo ball soup is commonly associated with Passover, if you are Jewish. I remember it was always my favorite food to eat during Pesach, and my cousin Joyce made it. My mom tried one year and her matzo balls were like cement rocks. I didn’t know all the debate over matzo balls at that time, the art of floaters (matzah balls that float in the broth) and that it wasn’t just a “Jewish” food. Non Jews regularly order matzo ball soup for the yummy taste, NEWSFLASH Matzo Balls are a delicious way to eat chicken soup. It’s the Jewish take on chicken noodle soup or dumpling soup. Be careful to eat matzo with fruit, it does clog some people up.

This recipe for the matzo balls is adapted from Joan Nathans recipe. I made some small adjustments but her recipe can also be found online and in her cookbook.

“FLOATERS”

Ingredients (for Matzo Balls)

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup chicken fat (duck fat is what I use) you can use melted coconut oil for a vegetarian version but it will NOT taste the same
  • 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 cup matzah meal
  • 1/4 Tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 TB roughly freshly grated ginger (I grate a 2 inch piece skin on)
  • 2 TB chopped dill
  • 1 Tsp salt
  • black pepper

Ingredients for Broth

  • peels and ends of carrots
  • peels and ends of parsnips
  • ends of celery
  • garlic skins
  • salt
  • any other leftover veggie peels/ends

Ingredients for Soup

  • 1lb carrots
  • 5 parsnips
  • 1 bunch of celery

I know this seems like a lot of work and ingredients. IT ISN’T! In this recipe the entire vegetable gets used which is my favorite way to cook!!!

Step 1. – Broth

  1. Add all skins/peels/ends to a large pot
  2. Cover with water, bring to a boil then let simmer for 5+ hours
  3. use a skimmer to take the veggies and pieces out

** you are left with a yummy, low salt, amber colored veggie broth.

Matzo Balls:

  1. Add all ingredients together, mix well, cover and refrigerate overnight.
  2. Salt a pot of water, boil, make balls (I use a cookie scoop) and with wet hands mold and gently place in water.
  3. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 40 minutes.

** add to broth immediately, or put in airtight container for later!!!

Soup:

  1. Chop carrots, parsnips, and celery.
  2. Add to broth, bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes
  3. Ladle into a bowl and add the matzah balls.

** feel free to add shredded cooked chicken

Helping chop the carrots for soup

Carmel Matzah Crunch

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I know not everyone celebrates Passover, a Jewish holiday. But, I am going to writing a post about the importance of tradition. For me holidays and traditions have evolved with time, but the always center around food. I love to cook and bake, an unusual combination. When I cook its an opportunity to give a part of myself to the people I love, sharing my traditions and in some cases value.

For those of us who show they care with food, I introduce “matzah crack” This is a staple for Passover. It can be eaten as a desert or as a snack. I just recommend not starting if you are planning to only have one. Its the kind of crunchy, sweet, salty snack that keeps having you eat one more piece.

Ingredients:

  • Matzah 5-6 sheets
  • Brown Sugar
  • Butter
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Sea Salt
  • anything else you want to add
  • pecans, crushed almonds, coconut

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper
  3. Matzah needs to fit on baking sheets, I usually get 2 full sheets then break the third to use on the bottom
  4. Melt 1/2 # butter, add 1 cup brown sugar and mix thoroughly
  5. Use a large spoon and cover matzah, this doesn’t need to be perfect
  6. Bake 5 minutes then switch and bake for 5 more minutes
  7. Add 1/2 cup per baking sheet of chocolate chips totallying 1 cup
    1. let chips sit for a minute before spreading, this makes chocolate less clumpy
  8. Add salt and any other topping of choice
  9. Refrigerate
  10. After an hour break the pieces and store in airtight container

MOST IMPORTANTLY ENJOY LIKE TALYA!!!

I hope everyone enjoys chocolate as much as Talya

CONSIDER TRYING A CSA OR IMPERFECT PRODUCE BOX

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WHAT TO DO WITH THE EGGPLANT?

FARMERS MARKETS, FOR THE MOST PART, ARE CLOSED FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE. THE FARMERS STILL HAVE FOOD, BUT LACK A CENTRAL LOCATION TO SELL. AN OPTION FOR THE TIME BEING IS TO BUY CSA BOXES, CHECK YOUR AREA TO FIND ONE THAT DELIVERS TO YOU. THERE ARE MANY PROS TO USING THESE SERVICES THAT GO FURTHER THAN SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL FARMER. THE FOOD IS ALMOST ALWAYS FRESHER, TOUCHED BY LESS PEOPLE, AND IN SEASON. THE ONE DOWNSIDE CAN BE THAT THE AVAILABLE FRUITS AND VEGGIES AREN’T FOODS THAT YOU ARE USED TO EATING OR COOKING WITH. DON’T LET THAT STOP YOU, THE INTERNET IS YOUR GREATEST TOOL WHEN STUMPED WITH HOW TO EAT A NEW VEGETABLE, LIKE AN EGGPLANT.

PERSONALLY, I HAVE USED IMPERFECT PRODUCE, A SERVICE THAT SELLS FOOD THAT DOESN’T MEET GROCERY STORES APPEARANCE STANDARDS, FOR YEARS. THIS PAST WEEK TWO EGGPLANTS CAME IN MY IMPERFECT PRODUCE BOX. AT FIRST, I WAS INTIMIDATED BY THE EGGPLANT. I HAVE TRIED PAN FRYING BUT IT ALWAYS BECAME GOOEY, SO I DECIDED TO TRY MAKING MY FAVORITE MIDDLE EASTERN SNACK- BABAGANUSH. AFTER SCANNING THE INTERNET, I FOUND RECIPES, WHICH I ADAPTED TO FIT WITH THE TIME, TOOLS AND SPICES IN MY KITCHEN.

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggplants thinly sliced
  • salt
  • olive oil – drizzle
  • 5 TB lemon juice
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 3 TB tahini

The Steps:

  1. Set the eggplant in a bowl, sprinkle with salt, let sit for ten minutes.
  2. Broil the eggplant for 10 minutes and let cool.
  3. But all ingredients in the cuisinart/blender/vitamix **use what you have

more info….

CSA: COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE, IT IS A WAY OF SUPPORTING SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICALLY RESPONSIBLE FARMING PRACTICES. THE MAJORITY OF FOOD FALLS UNDER THE PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC FARMING

HOW TO FIND: https://www.localharvest.org/csa/

IMPERFECT PRODUCE: THE MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE FOOD WASTE AND BUILD A BETTER FOOD SYSTEM FOR EVERYONE

HOW TO FIND: https://www.imperfectfoods.com

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS: I LOVE THE FOOD DIVERSITY WITH THE IMPERFECT PRODUCE BOX. THE VEGETABLES OFTEN ARE “PERFECT” TO THE NAKED EYE. SOMETIMES THE FOOD IS INTERESTING/DIFFERENT AND THE KIDS THINK THATS SUPER COOL. I PERSONALLY LIKE THE DRIED MANGO PIECES AND THE EGGPLANT.