GRANDMOM LENA'S ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

Steps:

• Prepare soup:.
• Place chicken in a large stock pot with just enough cold water to cover.
• Slowly bring to a boil and skim off the brown foam that rises to the surface.
• Once the brown foam subsides, add the rest of the ingredients except the salt and pepper.
• Boil chicken gently for approximately 2-3 hours until the meat is falling off the bone and the vegetables are very soft.
• Strain the meat and vegetables from the broth.
• Pull meat off the bones and break into spoon sized pieces and return to the broth.
• Finely mince the carrot and return that to the broth. Set aside.
• Prepare meatballs:.
• In a food processor add the eggs, garlic and parsley. Pulse on and off until minced but not a complete emulsion. You want very fine pieces.
• In a large bowl add the three ground meats and top with the egg mixture and salt and pepper.
• With your hands, begin to work the meats together with the egg.
• Add cheese and some of the breadcrumbs.
• Add as much or as little breadcrumb that you need until the mixture is somewhat moist, holds together, and not too dry.
• Roll mixture into small meatballs approx the same diameter as a quarter.
• In a medium sized saucepan, bring about 2 cups of the college inn chicken broth to a simmer.
• Drop the little meatballs into the college inn and poach until cooked through (about 3 minutes) remove with a slotted spoon and add to reserved soup. Continue until all the meatballs are cooked.
• Strain liquid left over in saucepan through cheesecloth and add to the soup that now has meatballs and chicken pieces in it.
• In another large stockpot, bring a large amount of salted water to a rolling boil.
• Add the thoroughly washed escarole to the water and allow to return to a boil.
• Cook until bright green slightly tender (don't overcook here in the water) remove with a large slotted spoon or strain into a colander.
• Add to stock pot with soup. Add remaining college inn to the soup (enough to cover all ingredients in pot) and bring to a simmer.
• Add additional 1/3 cup locatelli to simmering soup.
• Tastes best if refrigerated overnight and warmed thoroughly the next day.