Being a Jew in C-U: Kugelicious

Gratuitous cute photo of my little Flamingo. She didn't eat any kugel Saturday night. (Photo by Laura Weisskopf Bleill)

by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

So last week I told you all about Purim. One of the ways we celebrate is with a traditional celebratory meal, and we enjoyed a large community dinner with our synagogue family on Saturday night.

I’m not sure if kugel is a traditional Purim food, but it certainly is one of the Official Foods of the Jewish People™.  Why else would it have its own Wikipedia entry?

One of the great things about kugel is that no two kugels seem to be same. There were a variety of kugels at our Purim dinner; maybe next year we can have a kugel cook-off.

I received this recipe from my mom, so it must be good, although decidedly not good for you. If you’ve never had a noodle kugel before, it is usually somewhat sweet. How can you go wrong with noodles, sugar, cinnamon and sour cream? Kugel is very versatile; serve this at a bagel brunch or as a side with a fish dinner.

This easy recipe is one that is fun to do with the kids as they probably like most of the ingredients – and more importantly, it’s difficult to mess up. Unfortunately, the kugel I made last weekend was devoured before I remembered to take a photo of it.

Applesauce Noodle Kugel

8 ounces broad noodles (I used whole wheat egg noodles)
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup of sugar
1 pint sour cream
1/4 cup raisins. Doesn’t have to be exact. (and I prefer it without)
1 16 oz jar of apple sauce
Cinnamon to taste (1 teaspoon)
Salt 1/2 teaspoon should do it.
Butter – 1/2 stick

Cook and drain noodles. Mix all ingredients together except butter. Butter or grease 8×8 baking dish. Put kugel in pan. Dot with butter (about 1/2 of stick). I would suggest you mix 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon together and sprinkle on top before baking. Place in preheated oven at 350 degrees and bake for one hour.

Laura Weisskopf Bleill, a co-founder of chambanamoms.com, wishes she could make chicken soup the way Mom does. She writes “Being a Jew in C-U,” a column about being a Jewish suburban girl in a cornfield, on Thursdays. You can reach her at laura@chambanamoms.com.

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