Sometimes forced “sick days” make sure you enjoy your home – not just bounce in between events. When Mom’s sick, it puts a damper on the kids’ plans. They took great care of me, but I wanted us to still enjoy our weekend, without anyone’s eyeballs glued to the TV.
At this point, I needed the miracle cold cure, so I browsed my cookbooks found a recipe for Matzo Ball Soup from the ultimate Domestic Goddess, who doubles as a mom so it brought a validating level of comfort to the recipe.
Growing up, whether to bribe the kids to eat soup, or to fill up the men, we always made Hungarian Langos. Soup from scratch is no small undertaking, neither is Langos. Fortunately I’ve found ways to make both easier.
I prepped the soup to for the slow-cooker. I added garlic for extra cold killing.

Even parsley from my garden!
I used just chicken legs – I don’t cook whole chickens – and left it for 4 hours.

Best invention ever for domestic goddesses!
I made the laziest version of Langos starting with pre-mixed bread.

Keepin’ it simple!
I stuck the tray of rolls in the mildly warm oven to “rise”. With my grandmother, I would laboriously knead the dough, wait for it to rise, knead it again. Today I hoped my grandmother watching over me forgave me knowing that even with the abbreviated version, I loved feeling her next to me!
When I cooked the Langos, they cooked a little too hot. Knowing we’d eat them anyway, I put them in the oven to stay warm and got back to the soup.

A little darker but entirely edible!
I never tasted Matzo Ball soup before, but my son fretted all day because his first experience with them grossed him out. I knew I could make them at least the same if not better, so the bar wasn’t too high. They rolled out nicely

So quick and easy!
and cooked well and we poured magical golden soup over them, lit candles and sat down for our meal.

Skeptic kids become believers!
As usual a unanimous rating evaded us.

Lauren disliked matzo, Carson said “Eh?!”, both loved the soup.
Although I’d been tired before starting, and so tired after I didn’t post about it until this morning, mustering up old traditions and warming the heart of this house with new ones warmed me with much gratitude.
Mar 12, 2012 @ 08:18:27
I’m glad you fought through the fatigue and posted this. The “thumbs down” in the photos always cracks me up, haha!
Mar 12, 2012 @ 21:20:05
Hah, I slept but then woke up early – for some reason with losing an hour, I was wide awake at 5:30am. Then at about 3pm it felt painful having been up that early.
Thanks for wandering through again!
Mar 12, 2012 @ 09:01:38
I love love love love love love and did I mention love Nigella Lawson. I used to watch her show all the time and was so sad when it stopped airing!
Mar 12, 2012 @ 21:08:57
Me too! I love her! We could do a book swap! I can do a few out of this one, then swap with you for another of hers! 🙂
Mar 12, 2012 @ 14:48:43
Looks delish to me. What are the Langos?? They look bready and cheesy, but I can’t tell for sure…
Mar 12, 2012 @ 21:07:31
They’re simply fried dough. They kinda look like mozzerella chunks but they’re nothing more than dough fried up! We sprinkle with sugar or garlic salt. Yum!
Mar 12, 2012 @ 22:23:41
Oh yummy. They sound great. Thanks for explaining!
Mar 12, 2012 @ 21:07:46
Thanks for wandering by again today! 🙂
Mar 12, 2012 @ 22:24:13
I’m always glad to…I enjoy your blog! 🙂
Mar 12, 2012 @ 22:44:33
Aw shucks! *Blush!*