Kugel

We Jewish folk  may not believe in "Heaven," but let me tell you...

My mom's noodle kugel was heaven.

The smell of it, the taste, the look, the feel.

Everything about it was...divine.

"Kugel" for those unsure, is also known as noodle "pudding" or casserole.  The base can be made from noodles, potato or, during Passover, matzoh.   Fruit, cheese and vegetables are the most popular ingredients  to add, depending upon whether the objective is for a sweet or savory final product.

My mom's signature kugel was a fairly simple one - noodles, eggs, sugar, oil, cinnamon, vanilla and raisins - yet the pleasure it brought was immense.  I for one would drool when it came out of the oven as I longed for a bite of crispy noodles that were sizzling with oil and providing a protective cover for the succulent raisins hiding underneath.      

It was my dad's sister, Aunt Fay, who taught my mom how to make this fine dish, and I always stressed the historical context to my kids in the event they might want to pass it on to the next generation.   

The last time I made it, I felt so happy that one of our girls was in the kitchen watching me prepare it until she became horrified when I poured a whopping 1 cup of sugar into the mixture.    

"Is that a dessert?" she asked.

I wanted to say "Yes," because clearly she thought it should be and I admit that it could seem more acceptable as a dessert than as a side dish in today's world, but NO, it was actually the main part of our dinner.    

But what the heck.  We're Jews, and healthy meals aren't really part of our traditions.   

It never occurred to me when my mom served it that in actuality it wasn't really good for us.  

She made it.  We loved it.  End of story.

Over time, however, I've succumbed to the health-minded influences out there and reduced the sugar content by about 50% - and that's about how much I like it now! Someone suggested a sugar substitute, but I'm not comfortable integrating an impostor into the mix of something that at one time brought such pure joy to the family.

It's the real McCoy , or nothing.

Want to try it?   

A Taste of Heaven

(for 4-6 servings)

1/2 lb. medium wide egg noodles (follow directions for cooking)

Let noodles cool and pour cold water over top

Mix noodles with:

1 cup raisins

4 raw eggs (1 at a time)

1/2 cup sugar (no skimping allowed)

1/4-1/2 cup oil (scant)

1/2 tspn cinnamon

1 tspn vanilla

Grease loaf pan (about 9x5) and bake at 350 for approximately one hour.

I repeat:  DO NOT SKIMP ON THE SUGAR! 

Wishing everyone - Jews and non-Jews alike - a very Happy and Healthy year ahead, 

filled with great joy...and kugel!