Saturday, March 30, 2013

Spring in a Bowl



Spring here has a heart beat all of its own

The energy bubbles up from deep inside the ground
and takes over in ways you don't even understand

All of a sudden I can't sleep - there seems to be SO much to do!


And after a true winter, that first sunny day with a warmth
in the breeze can set you to dancing inside


Old Ackley Farm is rolling in eggs, I guess the hens are
feeling the same way I am!

I picked up dozens of these lovely organic beauties from 
the farm yesterday and set to making a soup we
had every Easter of my Greek childhood -

Avgolemono 

5 simple ingredients
and you have spring in a bowl!


GREEK LEMON SOUP

8 cups of the best chicken broth
1/2 cup orzo (pasta) or white rice
8 egg yolks
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 T fresh dill or 1 tsp dried
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring the chicken broth to a boil,
add the pasta, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes 

In a separate bowl whisk together the
yolks and lemon juice

Very gradually, add some of the hot stock to the yolk mixture,
being careful not to curdle the eggs.
Slowly whisk this tempered egg mixture
into the soup
(the Greek tradition is to make a sucking noise with your mouth
as you add the egg mixture back, to keep it from curdling -that was my father's job)

Add dill and cook over low heat for 10 minutes

Season with salt and pepper
The soup should be smooth and creamy with a fresh lemon bite

Enjoy your weekend,
Kyra










1 comment:

  1. Kyra - Wow!

    On Pleasant Street in Concord NH there is a son-mom-sister run restaurant called "Remi's Place." Remi is the head cook, his sister is at the cash register taking both orders and payment and then there is Mama.

    Mamma, who is dressed entirely in black with her salt and pepper hair pulled back into a bun is not the talkative type, but her face, that face tells my imagination many a story. You will often see her either clearing the tables from the lunch crowd or quietly sitting in a doorway between the restaurant and her apartment in the back.

    When my colleages and I are feeling the effects of N.H. winters, either physically, emotionally or mentally, the meal of choice is a bowl of Lemon Chicken Soup from Remi's Place. It comes with a toasted piece of garlic bread wrapped in wax paper.

    We are all convinced that the recipe for the soup is Mama's! It has to be - and I bet there is a great story behind it!

    I am going to make your recipe on Sunday and bring it in to work on Monday - thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete