After moving out of the family home, a daughter was asked by her mother to make her father’s birthday cake every year. Though her mother had once worked as a pastry chef in a French restaurant, it was puzzling that he preferred the simple, modest efforts of a young adult with only a studio apartment oven. The reason became clear: he didn’t want a fancy cake. He wanted a Duncan Hines yellow cake with any kind of frosting, as long as both came from prepackaged mixes.
This family’s chicken soup recipe follows a similar philosophy. The secret? The matzo balls come from a box. This guarantees fluffy matzo balls while allowing the true star of the dish—the chicken soup itself—to shine. Sometimes, convenience is exactly what’s needed.
