Title: Meatball Soup
Categories: None
Yield: 1 Servings

---------------------------------MEATBALLS---------------------------------
1 1/2 lb (or so) hamburger
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Nutmeg to taste

---------------------------------VEGETABLES---------------------------------
2 c Very finely chopped carrots
2 c Very finely chopped celery
2 c Very finely chopped leek
1 1/2 c Finely chopped cauliflower
-(optional)

---------------------------------REMAINDER---------------------------------
1/2 pk Fine egg noodles (more or
-less, depending on your
-taste)
12 Beef bouillon cubes (or to
-taste, if you think this
-sounds like too much)

Mix all ingredients above into bite-size meat balls. In a large pot, boil
meat balls in water. Eventually, "scum" will form on the water as a result
of the fat from the ground beef. Scoop out scum from top of water as it
forms with a sift. Continue boiling meatballs and scooping scum until you
it starts to subside.

You have 2 options now: you may save the water that the meatballs were
boiling in (this is what my mom does) or you may drain the meatballs in a
colander. If you decide to use the water that they were boiling in, my mom
usually puts the pot in the fridge over night and in the morning the fat
has risen and hardened on the top of the water. This she takes off and
discards (actually I think she uses it to make dog food, but that's a whole
other thing.

She tells me that if one is in a hurry and not _very_ concerned about fat,
the water may be used without over-night refrigeration.

In the same pot with the meatballs (if you choose the colander method
you'll have to add water here), add the vegetables. Boil and then simmer
the vegetables in the pot until they are almost done. At this point add
noodles and bouillon cubes.

When the noodles are done, soup is ready.

A couple of notes: Like my sister's recipe for Honey Chicken, this isn't
really an exact science. The amount of water used is about 20-30 cups. It
varies depending on how thick or thin you like your soups. We like ours
more on the thin side than the thick side.

Some people in my family like to add Maggi. Some people like to add tomato
juice that my mom makes. Usually I eat it just the way it is, sometimes
I'll add the tomato juice just to cool it down quicker so I can get to it
sooner......
Posted to EAT-L Digest 21 October 96

Date: Mon, 21 Oct 1996 23:01:54 -0400

From: Lilia Prescod