VittlesVamp

Great Balls of Matzo!

Passover may be over, but seder memories live on. One of the best memories I can conjure up for my guests is the enjoyment of a fine bowl of Matzo Ball Soup. What makes for a fine bowl? Three things. Great chicken broth made from scratch, delicious matzo balls, and the soup-to-balls ratio.

The latter one has long been disputed. Sometimes I have seen matzo balls the size of an infant's head served with a half-ladle of broth. That is unacceptable in my home. I believe in small balls, maybe a bite or two each. They need a bit of sturdiness to them. No flimsy, mushy balls served at my table!

In addition, deliciousness of the balls is an important factor. Therefore, I don't let the matzo meal and salt do all the work. I mince shallots and caramelize them to a burnished brown, stirring them into the mixture. I also include a great deal of chopped thyme and dill for an herbaceous hit.

All in all petite, flavor-packed balls are the way to go IMHO. That said, open to debating the topic with those that are so inclined. Let the ball-busting discussion begin!

Sri Lankan Feast

Back to the whole topic of "not trying this at home," led me to cooking at the home of two friends - a couple who do not know the meaning of "do not try this at home."

And, so we make a Sri Lankan feast. More exactly, they made a Sri Lankan feast.

I may have made the dish above, a Chicken Kottu Roti, which I think of as a cross between stuffing and fried rice, with strong dashes of curry and pandan tossed in the mix. I also whipped up some Ginger Snaps laced with Sri Lanka's answer to maple syrup - Kithul Treacle. But, my friends most definitely whipped up the lion's share of the evening's repast, including two Cashew Curries...

...as well as curries showcasing fish, beef, and plantain.

They prepared sombals for days. Pol Sombal, fragrant with coconut, chili peppers, and dried fish flakes, was an all-around favorite. A bright Mint Sombal was another winner. Then there was the refreshing Pathola salad with snake gourd...

And, did I mention that my friends got up at the wee hours of the morning to make their own coconut milk from scratch? They woke up at dawn and started cracking coconuts. Seriously. COCONUT MILK FROM SCRATCH.

I am officially put to shame. And, yet, just glad that I have friends that are willing to go to that much trouble - delicious trouble.