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Sunday, February 08, 2009

wedding balls


T
his is my version of Italian wedding soup. I had some ground turkey and I didnt know what to do with it until making little meatballs popped into my head. Making little meatballs is just as tedious as making big meatballs only ten times more. The temptation to make them bigger is always there because bigger means done sooner. By now you have figured out how I cook - no recipes. I know basically what goes into a dish and then I improvise based on what I have on hand. I have been reading cook books since 1973 so I have alot in the old memory banks. This soup sounded so perfect for a late lunch early dinner situation and I have never made it before, always an added motivator, so off and running with wedding balls in the mix. I made a vegetable broth and I had some artichoke hearts that someone had given me so into the pot they went along with celery, onions, garlic and carrots. After the broth had simmered and its flavor was rich and delightful I put in a little escarole and this part of the dish is ready.



The turkey meatballs were made with some leftover rice, some herbs and spices, some dried mushrooms that I had foraged this fall and dehydrated, some parmesean cheese, a tiny amount of italian bread made into crumbs and an egg to keep it all together, then braised in a little chicken broth until golden.





I ladled up some broth, dropped in meatballs to order, if you wanted one or if you wanted four, no matter because it is gobble-d-good.

39 comments:

Jill said...

I've been lurking a lot lately. The last several posts have looked fabulous!

Harmony said...

How funny...I was just looking at a recipe for something like this!! Looks great...Today is a soup type of day...

Selba said...

This looks so good! My mom just made meat balls from pork and tomato last night.

Gina said...

I'm a bad girl....

your title downloaded first and I said to myself (with a small amount of anticipation)....what???

lol...

Anonymous said...

Yummy! I haven't made any soups in a month, I'll need to make one this week.

jesse said...

I want five in my bowl pleasethankyew.

Anonymous said...

We are assigned soup for next month's catechism potluck - is there any way to de-gas cabbage?

Jeanne Estridge said...

Pretty enough for a five star restaurant!

pigpigscorner said...

Sounds amazing! But why is it called wedding soup?

Christo Gonzales said...

jill: lurking is ok...I do the same at your blog...

harmony: soup it up!

selba: nice to have soemone else to cook for you isnt it?

gina: well those would be better balls than blue ones wouldnt you think?

5 star: takes little time and the results are priceless

jesse: you can have seven because they are small ....

ap: cabbage soup? this is a depression we are in ...isnt it?

jeanne: wow that is so nice of you to say...thank you very much.

pigpigscorner: it is actually a mistranslated title it is really 'married soup' minestra maritata because meat and vegetables go so well together....

Ken said...

What a wonderful soup to be salivating over first thing in the morning. I want a bowl for breakfast. Yum!

buffalodick said...

One of those soups I've wanted to make but haven't yet... Looked good!

Phfrankie Bondo said...

...looks shucky-darn-delicious!...

tavolini said...

It looks pretty--I like the clear broth. Must've been a meat type weekend, I did veggie meat balls. I don't know how well they would hold up in soup..

Christo Gonzales said...

micky-t: great idea - I think I will have a little this morning...wish I could serve some up to you too....

buff: easy peasy lemon squeezy

PB: whiz bangin' wowee

tavolini: it has taken me years to master the secret of the clear broth...

Unknown said...

Oh my god, that looks absolutely delicous and the type of food that is right up my ally!!!

Anonymous said...

Yes those meatballs sound just yummers. And they stay nothing but juicy floating around in broth!

Anonymous said...

Looks great, I never thought of this but it would be great for kids, they always love a meatball!

Mo Diva said...

This looks awfully good! Comfort food at its best! YUM!

M said...

That looks so good! I'll have to give this one a try!!

Marjie said...

Bright and colorful. Looks good in either bowl. We're still deep in soup season, here!

Anonymous said...

This is perfect for me--turkey instead of pork! Looks awesome.

Tanya Kristine said...

i like balls.

Christo Gonzales said...

bina: we could be alley allies --

duodishes: they actually whimper with flavor sighs..

holly: kids of all ages like meatballs I think...but fun food is always a winner with the under 21 crowd..LOL

mo diva: so comforting you want to marry it...

emmy: it could not be any easier...

marjie: we are as deep as you I think...but NYC didnt get much snow yet so....maybe you are deeper..

lisaiscooking: and this is one of those rare times the turkey did not get dry too...

TK: well I got em'!

Cynthia said...

I wanna get married just to have these :) Oh wait, I don't have to :)

I have to try making this soup.

Just telling it like it is said...

Wow looks tasty especially because it was raining here all day in the desert!;0)

Anonymous said...

are you really foraging for mushrooms?

The Blonde Duck said...

I love meatballs!

I moved! Check me out at www.aduckinherpond.com

Olga said...

That looks delicious!
I love mini meatballs and added some to an Asian soup I made last week.

And I too cook w/o recipes :)

My comfort food network said...

Yummy soup. I have never had meatballs in a soup. This looks really hearty and healthy.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this looks delicious. I like the turkey meatballs and the colors. This looks deeelicious!

Christo Gonzales said...

cynthia: that could be your valentine lure....

just telling: perfect for a rainy desert day...

sophie: good balls is right!

j: yes I forage often - cant wait till it warms up a bit so I can get out and forage some more

TBD: I have been to the new place - I left a comment - didnt I?

olga: I checked out your soup and it looks great!

my comfort food network: make em' tiny so they fit on a spoon and can be eaten with one bite...

Christo Gonzales said...

lisa (dandy): we crossed paths on the cyber highway ---

Angel said...

this looks really really good dog, but I gotta protest. YOU CAN'T CHANGE ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP! the meatballs are little, the carrots and celery are little....the chicken broth is clarified, then you forgot the bread that goes on top!!

my mom would be mortified! ;)

Christo Gonzales said...

beth: ok already - I changed it a little - geez I'm not Italian so thats my excuse....I think this soup comes from Philly or Pittsburgh anyway...its American

Joy said...

This looks sooooo good! I want someone to cook for me. What? Cook for myself? I guess I have to.

pinknest said...

oh my. i want to call that pan of meatballs my bed.

Tangled Noodle said...

These are some huge, juicy . . . neh, you've heard it already.

I hope you don't mind but I quoted and linked to you on my current post, "Crouching Tiger, Cooking Dolphin".

Maggie said...

I've been loving meatball soup lately, I've been using ground pork in mine. I hear ya on the little meatballs. I keep thinking I can make them smaller and then it takes me forever to make them all.

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