Matzah Ball Soup

This is THE BEST recipe chicken soup/matzah ball soup recipe I've ever tasted.  I'm not just saying that because it is my mother's.  :)
On one hand, I feel like I'm being a traitor by posting this and letting the secret out.  On the other hand, I also feel like it's a sin not to share this with people so they can taste the perfectness.  That's right....I said it's perfect.  If you were sick (hell I'd do it even if I were well), you'd ask for this intravenously...it's THAT good.

• 1 whole chicken, cut up
• 1 small package chicken wingettes
• 3 carrots, wiped clean and chopped into thumb size pieces
• 2 onions, peeled and quartered
• 3 ribs celery plus the leaves from the entire stalk, ribs chopped in thirds
• 3 parsnips, peeled and chopped like carrot
• 2 turnips, peeled and chopped into about 2 inch pieces
• 2 large boxes of chicken broth (I use low sodium)
• dill
• cheesecloth
• 6-10 peppercorns

1. Put the chicken in the largest stock pot you have (I have to split it between 2) and just barely cover the chicken with water.
2. Let it boil until gray icky foam (ewwwww) comes to the surface, skim it off.
3. Pour in enough chicken broth to come about 3/4 of the way up the pot.
4. Dump in (carefully!) all of the veggies
5. Bind the dill, peppercorns, and parsley in a cheesecloth and drop that in as well.
6. Let simmer for 2 hours then salt/pepper to taste
7. Let it cool and package the chicken, veggies, and broth separate.
8. Refrigerate overnight
9. My mom serves this with just the broth, matzah balls, and a few sliced carrots on top.  I go for the whole thing and add the shredded chicken meat, and veggies (chopped into more manageable pieces).

I've eaten this soup the night it's made...and it's awesome.  But I promise it is about 10x as awesome if you can let it sit overnight  (plus then you can skim all the solidified fat off the top and chuck it)


Note: To make this Matzah Ball soup  follow directions on box of Manischewitz Matzah Ball mix (available all year round) and add the yummy dumplings to a bowl of soup.