OK close your eyes. Think about your childhood. Think about the one thing your mom or dad would make for you, and just one taste would make everything alright in the world. For me, it was my moms ‘tummy tea’ (black tea with milk and sugar) and her famous Chicken Matzo Ball Soup. Or should I say, chicken soup with matzo balls. I was on the phone with my BFF while cleaning up dinner last night, when she told me I was determined to turn Cory into an Italian Jew like me. An ‘Epstein’ by blood, my grandparents were Jewish and Italian, and the recipes we cherish embrace every side of our mixed heritage…Jewish, Italian and African American.
Yesterday, I spent eight hours in the hospital, while Cory endured sinus surgery. He was such a trooper and hopefully finally out of his misery! I got up super early, 6 AM to be exact, and made scratch chicken soup. When I returned home, I prepped the noodles and Matzo Balls, and was prepared to nurse my love back to health. After I handed over the bowl of goodness that I made exactly to Mama Judes standards…I came to check on the hubby, and he just looked at me and said, ‘I love matzo balls’. It was so cute and so sweet, and I knew exactly how he felt on the inside. Even if its just temporary, he felt better in that moment, with that bowl of love. The last time I had this recipe was right after I moved to Portland. I had just uprooted my life, and when my mom came out and made this soup on a cold rainy day, I could not be more thankful for the fluffy pillows of goodness and the broth that warmed me all over.
On a healthier note, bone broth has tons of benefits. Rich in nutrients like gelatin and glycine, it helps to protect and heal your gut lining, skin and digestive tract.You can make this soup or simply the broth and enjoy its benefits throughout the year. Try to keep all the ingredients as fresh as possible, and make this dish a household tradition! Mom…every bite I ate last night reminded me of you! I love you!
Ingredients:
Broth:
1 Whole Organic Chicken
Water
4 Stalks Celery Sliced
1 Bag Chopped Baby Carrots
1/2 Chopped White Onion (optional–mom doesn’t usually do this)
4 Large Bullion or 6 Small
3 Tbs Dill Weed
Matzo Balls:
1 Box Matzo Ball Mix ( 2 Packets) (I use Manischewitz)
4 Organic Brown Eggs
4 Tbs skimmed Chicken Fat Instead of Oil (Mama Jude’s Secret)
1 Package of Manischewitz Egg Noodles
Directions:
Put chicken in large pot (if you want to be able to scoop all chicken out at once get cheese cloth & wrap chicken in it) cover with water bring to boil. Add celery, carrots, dill, onion(optional) & boullion. Slow heat & simmer a few hours. When ready scoop out chicken put in strainer pick all chicken off bones with your hands & add back to soup be careful of bones. When you’re ready to serve, make matzo balls, follow directions on box. I use the Chicken fat on top of soup instead of oil (this is the best trick ever). Bring soup back to boil drop in motzah balls and let them cook till light n fluffy about 5 minutes or so. Do noodles in separate pot drain them put in bowl add soup over them. Enjoy the yummmess 💕👍💕
(These directions are straight from mama J) I know its summer, but we all really enjoyed the soup, from the comfort of our air conditioner last night!
