So the Avgolemino soup was a success, and because I knew it tasted very close to my grandmother's soup I decided, at the last minute to invite family and friends over for a birthday dinner for my Dad. As last minute as it sounds for dear ole Dad, we did plan on an outdoor activity for his birthday, but got caught by Ernesto's Labor Day Rain Parade.

To do something so last minute was logistically insane. I really didn't have the time to cook or the excitement/energy to shop, cook, host and clean, all while juggling a toddler. And what's worse I promised my husband we'd play 9 holes of golf on Monday, on our day off.

So the morning started with a Red Bull. Our daughter went to play with her grandmother, JP and I shot nine holes of golf at Rock Creek Park, then hit Harris Teeter on the way back, picked up the toddler, ran through the house with a dust cloth and a vacuum cleaner, set a pretty cute table, and started to cook around 5. Guests were told to come at 5:30. Needless to say, dinner was served late--7pm or thereabouts. In my family, good scotch will save the hapless cook. I served plenty.

I practically stood over them while they ate the soup. Making sure I got the right looks and comments. I was begging for it I admit it, but to me this was my grandmother's soup. My Aunt and Dad said it was 'delicious.' Trust me that is real praise. Full recipe with secrets, below. The rest of the menu was simple: beef tenderloin, cauliflower au gratin, pomme frittes and Harris Teeter's double chocolate cake.

Full Avgolemino Soupa:

Chicken Stock:
1 package (1lb) Chicken Drumsticks (Thawed or Fresh)
1 package (1lb) Chicken Hearts and Gizards (Fresh)
1 package (1lb) Chicken Backs & Necks (Thawed or Fresh)
4-5 Quarts of Water (an inch over the top of the ingredients)
5 Stalks Celery, halved or chopped
4 Med. Carrots, skinned, chopped
1/4 Onion, quartered
5 Sprigs of Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley
3 tsp Salt
3 tsp Pepper

Bring to a boil all ingredients, reduce heat to the lowest setting, simmer for 7-9 hours. Simmer with the top ajar to let the steam out. Make sure you watch the heat or your stock will reduce to chicken soup concentrate.

Bechemel Sauce:
2 tsp Butter (Presidential or Irish)
2 tbs Flour
Wisk until blended.
4 cups scalding hot milk
Pour milk slowly into butter and flour mixture, wisking constantly in the same direction. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium temp, constantly stirring for about 20 minutes. Sauce will thicken. (Secret: If it gets lumpy, simply strain it after it's cooked, put it back in the pot, and put Saran wrap directly on sauce so it doesn't form a skin when it cools.)

Egg & Lemon:
(Secret: The more egg yokes the richer the soup).
5 Eggs
1/4 cup lemon juice (This is a taste preference. You can do less or more).

In a bowl, separate eggs, keeping the yokes. While wisking add a little lemon juice at a time to the eggs. Keep stiring in the same direction.

Assembling the soup:
Heat up the stock, if you've let it cool. Some people make it the day before and store it in the refrigerator. If it's cold and gelatinous, heat it slowly, contantly stirring.

Add the Bechemel in teaspoon fulls contantly stirring the soup. Take your time with this step. You might not want to use all of the bechemel as your soup can get heavy. I used about 4 tbsps of bechemel for 3 quarts of stock.

After you have blended the eggs and the lemon juice in a separate bowl, slowly add the hot chicken soup to the egg and lemon, one cup at a time, constantly stirring. This is the phase where the lemon and butter meet and might separate, or curdle. To keep this from happening always stir slowly and in the same direction.

Then you now have to transfer this egg, lemon, chicken stock with bechemel to the larger pot of soup. Again, do it slowly and stir in the same direction.

That's it.
By the way, omit the bechemel and this is the best home remedy for a cold.
Questions? Email me!