Sunday Dinner

     I made Aunt Kim's Italian Wedding Soup recipe this weekend.  I can't even begin to describe the reaction that I got from everyone.  The kids LOVED it and kept praising my soup all through dinner.   Italian Wedding Soup was believed to be created by the Romans.  It isn't actually a wedding tradition in Italy.  The term "wedding soup" was actually a mistranslation of the Italian language, minestra (soup) maritata (marriage).  It means that the green vegetables and meat mixed with the clear broth is a good marriage or combination of ingredients.  Whatever it means, it is damn good soup!  And Aunt Kim's recipe was amazing.  So here it is...

Aunt Kim's Italian Wedding Soup

8 oz ground beef and 8 oz ground pork- put into a mixing bowl

1/3 C chopped Italian Parsley

1 large egg

2 cloves (or more to taste,  we love our garlic around here!)

1 tsp salt

1/4 C bread crumbs

1/2 C grated Parm (fresh is always best)

Ground pepper

    -Mix well and toll out 1" meatballs, place on plate

The Soup:

12 C chicken broth in a nice pot (My brother, Dave, insists on a nice pot so just get yourself a nice pot-you deserve it)

1 lb. escarole (you can subsitute spinach-this is the first time I used escarole and it really is good), chopped into thin strips

2 large eggs

2 TBSP grated parm

1 box of small pasta such as orzo, pastini or I used Acini Di Pepe which are little tiny balls

salt and pepper

     -Bring broth to a boil and add the meatballs and escarole and simmer till' the meatballs are cooked through (about 8 minutes).  Whisk the eggs, cheese, salt and pepper in a bowl.  ALERT, here is the tricky part!!!!  Stir the soup in a circular motion and gradually drizzle the egg mixture into the moving broth, stirring gently with a fork to form thin strands of egg, about 1 minute.  I found this to be very challenging.  I am not sure if thin strands were ever formed but it still tasted wonderful.  Add pasta and cook.  That's it!!!!

Kaitlyn enjoying some bread with olive oil for dipping

     My family can eat.  I've got 3 growing boys and Jason!  We also had Gramy and Papa for dinner so I doubled this recipe.  Dave mentioned that this soup is so much better the next day.  So I made it on Sat. but he suggested that I don't add the pasta because it soaks up all of the broth.  I added the pasta about an hour before we ate and it was perfect.  When you do have leftovers after adding the pasta, you will need to add more broth.  There is enough for leftovers for our family and I was able to send some home with Gramy and Papa.  I served this with Italian bread and a plate of olive oil with some Italian seasonings and grated parm to dip the bread in.  And a big salad and it was such a complete and hearty meal.  Gramy brought so much too.  She brought her bread that she baked that day and olive oil with garlic and parsley to dip the bread into.  Gramy can't come over for a meal or party without bringing her punch.  The kids wouldn't allow it!  She mixes sprite with Minute Maid fruit punch and then makes icemolds using the fruit punch and adding cherries and mandarine orange slices.  So good!  Gramy brought so many goodies for dessert as well.  She made her signature pretzels with  a melted chocolate and M and M's pressed into the chocolate.  She also brought her homemade chocolate chip cookies.  And finally the best dessert was her Angel Food cake with fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries) topped with Whipped Cream!  We had a feast!  Gramy told the kids that Aunt Kim was surely looking down from Heaven and smiling at the wonderful family dinner we had. 

Gray, Zac and Gramy



Brayden enjoying his soup



  





Papa and Zac try to nap after their meal but Gray is not allowing it!