Grandma's Homemade Wedding Soup

This is by far the best wedding soup you will ever have. However the preparation time is not for the faint of heart.

The Stock for soup

• 14 cups water
• 1 whole chicken, 4 to 5 pounds
• Salt and black pepper to taste (about ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper)

In a large soup pot add the water, chicken, salt and pepper. Cook over low for 3 hours. Remove chicken from pot. Cool the stock and drain the liquid through a small mesh colander into another large soup pot. Place the liquid on the side for later.

Remove skin from chicken and discard. Remove meat from chicken and tear into small pieces. Place chicken on the side for later.

The Meatballs for soup

Makes 10 to 11 dozen mini-meatballs

• 1 small onion, minced
• 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/2 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

In a large stainless steel bowl combine all the ingredients (yes at once). Mix the contents of the bowl until consistent. Break off pieces of the mix and roll into ½ inch meatballs. If you are lazy you can roll into 1 inch meatballs (but they taste better when small). Place meatballs on the side. Option - brown in a skillet for 5 minutes, turning often. Drain liquid and place meatball on side (healthy).

The Soup, finally

• Stock, from above,
• Chicken from above
• Meatballs, from above
• 3 pounds of fresh escarole (washed, trimmed, and chopped)
• 2 stocks celery (washed, trimmed and chopped)
• 2 whole carrots (washed, trimmed and sliced)
• 1 whole onion (washed, trimmed, and chopped)
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 large egg, beaten

The stock is already in a large soup pot. Bring stock to a boil and add chicken, celery, carrots and onion. Reduce heat to low and cook for 2 hours or until the vegetables are medium-soft. Add meatballs to the pot and cook for 60 minutes on medium. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the escarole. Cook for 30 minutes or until tender. Stir in the cheese (optional). Cook an additional 5 minutes. Serve hot. Taste better the next day!

Most people like to place their Wedding soup in a bowl and THEN put on the Parmesan cheese, to taste.

Enjoy