Recipes from a Monastery Kitchen

SISTERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF JESUS

January 8, 2016

Since the 1970’s, we have prepared hundreds (if not thousands!) of meals here at the Community of Jesus on Cape Cod, and at our mission house, Villa Via Sacra, in Barga, Italy. We believe that food nourishes body, soul, and spirit, and that even the simplest meal, prepared with love, can change your life. At the heart of our call to kitchen and table lie the words of Saint Benedict: “Welcome all as Christ.” This premise has led us on many culinary adventures, which we now gladly share with you!

MATZO BALL SOUP

Just out of High School I was working in our city’s leading flower shop. The owner of the shop was Jewish and from time to time his mother would surprise all of us employed there with one of her home cooked Jewish dishes. Her chicken Matzo Ball soup with its distinctive flavor was my favorite.

When the sister cooking our convent lunch this week agreed to make this for us I could not have been happier. For many of the sisters this was a brand new taste experience. For me it was a reviving of one of my happiest early life memories.

Original Streits Matzo Ball Recipe

SERVINGS

4servings (16-20 Matzo Balls)

CHANGE SERVING SIZE

servings (16-20 Matzo Balls)

COOK TIME

1 1/4mins

PREP TIME

10mins

READY IN

1 3/4hrs

INGREDIENTS

Matzo Balls
4 eggs beaten
1 cup unsalted matzo meal
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup margarine or Canola Oil, melted
1 tsp salt
dash of black pepper
Soup
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic
2 yellow onions
6 carrots
6 stalks celery
2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
12 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
freshly cracked pepper
few sprigs fresh dill for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Matzo Balls

Beat eggs in a bowl. Then add water, margarine/oil, salt and pepper to the beaten eggs. Mix well. Add Matzo meal and stir.
Refrigerate at least one hour.
Form into balls and drop into pot soup or boiling water. Cook 20 minutes.

Soup

Mince the garlic and dice the onion, celery, and carrots.
Sauté the garlic, onion, celery, and carrots with the vegetable oil in a pot
until the onions become transparent.
Add chicken broth, 2 cups water, pepper, and one or two sprigs of dill to the pot.
Place a lid on the pot and let it come up to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, turn the heat down and simmer for 30 minutes.
After the soup has simmered, add the shredded chicken breast to soup.
Add matzo balls to the soup and let them simmer for 20 minutes without removing the lid.
Garnish with fresh dill before serving