MEATBALL SOUP FOR ALL AGES

This is my best childhood soup of  all times. Especially after a rainy and dreary day like yesterday this soup was calling my name. I had to make it as soon as I got home. For some reason this soup always comforted me. My elderly neighbor whom receives a bowl of this soup swears by it. I think this is a nutritious soup for adults and children alike beacuse it has every food category in it plus it's fat content is minimal. It's funny, I made this soup for a friend's finicky child who wouldn't eat vegetables. His mother was amazed how he finished it and asked for more. I think they still talk about that day. This soup is great as a main dish for relaxing evenings or lunch with friends. I serve it with a salad and crunchy bread on the side. As always,  I do not use salt in any of my recipes. One can add salt and pepper to their taste.

For the broth:

5 Cups of  water (or previously prepared vegetable broth )

2 Medium carrots sliced

2 Medium celery stalks sliced

2 Small potatoes peeled and diced in to cubes

Put everything in a large pot and start boiling on medium high heat.

For meatballs

1 Lb. fat free ground beef

1/4 Cup uncooked rice

1/4 Cup breadcrumbs (I used panko)

1/2 Tsp. garlic powder

1/4 Tsp. cumin

Mix everything well by hand and roll into 1 1/2 inch meat balls. Carefully place them in with the boiling vegetables in the pot and continue to boil until vegetables are soft and the meatballs start floating on top. 

Whisk  1 Egg yolk with 2Tbs. lemon juice in a separate bowl and temper it with the broth from the soup. Return this mixture carefully into the pot, stir and turn off the heat.

 Last night I served this meal with shredded carrot salad on a bed of lettuce with lemon vinaigrette dressing and a chunk of fresh bread. Enjoy.