Last week I made some beautiful rich chicken stock that I put up in
the freezer. I also froze some of the chicken that I had from making
the stock. I consider this the perfect beginning for some matzo ball
soup. This is the first time I've ever made, or tasted for that
matter, matzo balls.
I followed the recipe on the Manischewitz matzo meal can. The can
states that matzo meal it is the perfect substitute for bread crumbs,
coool beans.

I've been reading a little about matzo balls and there seems to be two
different schools of thought regarding them. One says sinkers are the
best, while others swear the floaters are the best. Either way, I
figured I couldn't loose. If I wanted floaters but ended up with
sinkers I could claim sinkers were my goal. Some also claim using club
soda instead of the broth produces a lighter matzo ball, and most
agree that adding schmaltz is a must. I have no schmaltz on hand, at
least not now. For my first venture into matzo balls I stayed true to
the recipe.

The ingredients assembled are matzo meal, salt, eggs, oil and chicken
stock.
http://i32.tinypic.com/fuup2q.jpg

Mixed it all up really good, no lumps and covered and put in the
fridge for 15 minutes.
http://i29.tinypic.com/2ujgqc0.jpg

I made walnut sized balls using wet hands and placed them in gently
boiling water, then covered and cooked for 30 to 40 minutes. Look ma,
no sinkers.
http://i28.tinypic.com/2gtuedh.jpg

After 30 minutes took one matzo ball out and placed in cold water,
according to directions.
http://i27.tinypic.com/o7radv.jpg

I didn't have a clue as to how to check it for "doneness" I figured if
the center wasn't gooey and the texture was the same throughout it was
fine.
http://i32.tinypic.com/2dtro6p.jpg

Looked good to me so the rest of the matzo balls came out and got the
same cool water treatment. Dang, they sure swell up while cooking, I
started with walnut sized pieces.
http://i30.tinypic.com/a4laur.jpg

I added some carrots, celery, onion and mushrooms to the chicken stock
and chicken that I started with and had a delicious matzo ball soup.
http://i28.tinypic.com/33bnuj7.jpg

koko
---
http://www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 2/24
"There is no love more sincere than the love of food"
George Bernard Shaw

The timing is interesting. I was always taught that you leave the
mixture in the fridge for at least an hour, up to overnight. Makes
them easier to handle, always use wet hands to form the walnut-sized
balls. Cooking is also usually longer, but if you're happy with the
way they turned out, ignore everything I've said.<g>

Your picture of the sliced dumpling looks liek they should. Seems you
got the floaters<g>.

Finished soup looks good, too. Just what the doctor ordered. (Doctor
Mom, that is)

Best,
maxine in ri

On Feb 24, 9:33 pm, wrote:
> Last week I made some beautiful rich chicken stock that I put up in
> the freezer. I also froze some of the chicken that I had from making
> the stock. I consider this the perfect beginning for some matzo ball
> soup. This is the first time I've ever made, or tasted for that
> matter, matzo balls.
> I followed the recipe on the Manischewitz matzo meal can. The can
> states that matzo meal it is the perfect substitute for bread crumbs,
> coool beans.
>
> I've been reading a little about matzo balls and there seems to be two
> different schools of thought regarding them. One says sinkers are the
> best, while others swear the floaters are the best. Either way, I
> figured I couldn't loose. If I wanted floaters but ended up with
> sinkers I could claim sinkers were my goal. Some also claim using club
> soda instead of the broth produces a lighter matzo ball, and most
> agree that adding schmaltz is a must. I have no schmaltz on hand, at
> least not now. For my first venture into matzo balls I stayed true to
> the recipe.
>
> The ingredients assembled are matzo meal, salt, eggs, oil and chicken
> stock.http://i32.tinypic.com/fuup2q.jpg
>
> Mixed it all up really good, no lumps and covered and put in the
> fridge for 15 minutes.http://i29.tinypic.com/2ujgqc0.jpg
>
> I made walnut sized balls using wet hands and placed them in gently
> boiling water, then covered and cooked for 30 to 40 minutes. Look ma,
> no sinkers.http://i28.tinypic.com/2gtuedh.jpg
>
> After 30 minutes took one matzo ball out and placed in cold water,
> according to directions.http://i27.tinypic.com/o7radv.jpg
>
> I didn't have a clue as to how to check it for "doneness" I figured if
> the center wasn't gooey and the texture was the same throughout it was
> fine.http://i32.tinypic.com/2dtro6p.jpg
>
> Looked good to me so the rest of the matzo balls came out and got the
> same cool water treatment. Dang, they sure swell up while cooking, I
> started with walnut sized pieces.http://i30.tinypic.com/a4laur.jpg
>
> I added some carrots, celery, onion and mushrooms to the chicken stock
> and chicken that I started with and had a delicious matzo ball soup.http://i28.tinypic.com/33bnuj7.jpg
>
> koko
> ---http://www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
> updated 2/24
> "There is no love more sincere than the love of food"
> George Bernard Shaw

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:41:39 -0500, margaret suran
> wrote:

wrote:
>> Last week I made some beautiful rich chicken stock that I put up in
>> the freezer. I also froze some of the chicken that I had from making
>> the stock. I consider this the perfect beginning for some matzo ball
>> soup. This is the first time I've ever made, or tasted for that
>> matter, matzo balls.
>> I followed the recipe on the Manischewitz matzo meal can. The can
>> states that matzo meal it is the perfect substitute for bread crumbs,
>> coool beans.
>>
>*snipped part of post*
>
>> Mixed it all up really good, no lumps and covered and put in the
>> fridge for 15 minutes.
>> http://i29.tinypic.com/2ujgqc0.jpg
>
>I like to refrigerated the batter for at least two hours, if possible
>over night, otherwise it is too moist.
>
Even though the can did say 15 minutes it ended up being longer. I can
see where 15 minutes might not be long enough.

>*more snipping*
>
>> After 30 minutes took one matzo ball out and placed in cold water,
>> according to directions.
>> http://i27.tinypic.com/o7radv.jpg
>
>
>I have never heard of the Matzo Ball Cold Water Cure. There is nothing
>about cold water on my can of Manischewitz Matzo Meal. I would imagine
>that if I cook a hot, fluffy Matzo Ball, it would shrivel up in a cold
>bath and get gummy. Instead, yours, of course, just looks yummy. No
>wonder my skin color changes to green (as in envy) when I read your
>illustrated posts. (
>
>I have to admit, that I always enjoy those posts with which you tempt us
>and I would not dream of skipping one. Thank you.

Thank you for your wonderfull compliments Margaret, they mean a lot to
me.

koko
---
http://www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 2/24
"There is no love more sincere than the love of food"
George Bernard Shaw