THE Kugel Experience
It seems that to have a REAL shabbos experience, one must partake of potato kugel. It seems that typically when one visits a religious home in a frum community, one is immediately (upon taking 3 steps into the home) served piping hot, homemade potato kugel. As my husband reminded me on many occasions of his "kugel experience" upon visiting various places in New York, I couldn't help but imagine June Cleaver in a sheitel (she did wear one didn't she?), welcoming my husband into her home with piping hot kugel in hand. I did not grow up with this particular "religious experience", but I did get the chance to experience it at a religious home while visiting relatives, and yes, it was delicious. Children suddenly appeared out of the walls (and we did too) when the kugel was presented an hour or so before shabbos began. There is nothing quite like homemade, piping hot kugel.
Anyway, it seems that persistence pays off. My husband insisted that he just could not go another shabbos without making THE kugel. I offered to make it for him at which he said, "Oh no. I'm going to make it myself. You have to have the exact recipe." I was happy to step aside. I have been known to "experiment" with recipes (I consider any white substance a substitute for one another) and the kugel recipe was not to be experimented with (commandment number 11: Thou Shalt Not Alter the Kugel Recipe). My only suggestion, was that perhaps instead of putting potatoes through the food processor that my husband purchase already shredded potatoes for his first go at the recipe. He agreed. Kugel number one was a beauty! On a scale of 1-10 it visually received a 9.5. We dug into this masterpiece only to find ourselves gasping for water as the dry pieces got caught in our throats. The kugel was.....you guessed it...too dry. But such a shame, as it was a beauty (crispy on the outside, white on the inside). The second week, my husband proceeded to try the kugel again. This time he insisted on using fresh potatoes and the food processesor. Well, folks, au natural it was indeed. This kugel was, I don't know how to say it, multicolored: gray, brown and white. On a scale of 1-10 it received a 2 for its appearance. We devotingly dug into this kugel, but it was so slippery that we could have used it to change the oil in our cars.
To date, we have not had THE kugel experience in our home. Our pallets are waiting. We will keep at it until it is just right. We are on a hunt for the perfect kugel recipe that brings Jews of all ages running into the kitchen at the smell of oil and potatoes. We will take on this challenge until our guests say, "mmm, now that's delicious kugel!"
visit our blog at www.marriedtoayid.com
Anyway, it seems that persistence pays off. My husband insisted that he just could not go another shabbos without making THE kugel. I offered to make it for him at which he said, "Oh no. I'm going to make it myself. You have to have the exact recipe." I was happy to step aside. I have been known to "experiment" with recipes (I consider any white substance a substitute for one another) and the kugel recipe was not to be experimented with (commandment number 11: Thou Shalt Not Alter the Kugel Recipe). My only suggestion, was that perhaps instead of putting potatoes through the food processor that my husband purchase already shredded potatoes for his first go at the recipe. He agreed. Kugel number one was a beauty! On a scale of 1-10 it visually received a 9.5. We dug into this masterpiece only to find ourselves gasping for water as the dry pieces got caught in our throats. The kugel was.....you guessed it...too dry. But such a shame, as it was a beauty (crispy on the outside, white on the inside). The second week, my husband proceeded to try the kugel again. This time he insisted on using fresh potatoes and the food processesor. Well, folks, au natural it was indeed. This kugel was, I don't know how to say it, multicolored: gray, brown and white. On a scale of 1-10 it received a 2 for its appearance. We devotingly dug into this kugel, but it was so slippery that we could have used it to change the oil in our cars.
To date, we have not had THE kugel experience in our home. Our pallets are waiting. We will keep at it until it is just right. We are on a hunt for the perfect kugel recipe that brings Jews of all ages running into the kitchen at the smell of oil and potatoes. We will take on this challenge until our guests say, "mmm, now that's delicious kugel!"
visit our blog at www.marriedtoayid.com
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