Pho-like Matzo Ball Soup

Last Friday I decided to go to the grocery store to get ready for a huge snow storm we were supposed to have in DC area. To be completely honest, I did not believe we'd be snowed in, but thought it'd be best to be prepared. I decided to buy a mix to make Matzo Ball Soup, but with a twist. What's the twist? I used spices you would typically find in Pho! One of my photos was used in Washington Post: score :)

Pho-like Matzo Ball Soup

Ingredients

4.5 ounce Manischewitz Matzo Ball & Soup mix

3 quarts water

1 egg

2 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons coriander seeds

4 cloves

2 star anise

2 inch piece of ginger, cut into a few pieces

2 teaspoon sugar

1-2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce

1 cup snowpeas, halved

1 cup shredded Napa cabbage

2 peeled carrots, made into ribbons using a peeler

Directions:

1. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil with a spice package from the boxed mix, sugar, chili sauce and coriander, cloves, anise and ginger. (Note: put coriander, cloves, anise and ginger into a big teaball or cheesecloth so you can easily remove it).

2. Meanwhile, combine the matzo ball package with an egg and oil. Mix. Let sit in the refrigerator for 15 min.

3. Once the liquid part of the soup is boiling, form about 14 balls (wet your hands with water to make this process easier).

4. Drop the matzo balls into the liquid, turn the heat down, cover and cook for 15 min.

5. Add snowpeas, cabbage, and carrots, Cook for 5 more minutes and serve!

Also, I'm going to submit this recipe to Natasha's 5 Star Makeover.

Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it! I'm spending a day volunteering at the DC Jewish Community Center, seeing a movie with my friend Radha and then getting Chinese with Radha, Drie and Mas.