When it’s ‘play ball,’ might as well be matzoh balls

Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the spring of Hope, the winter of despair.” I, myself, was hoping to have a spring of Hope, after a winter of despair — with my sports teams, that is.

My husband Jerry and I are avid sports fans. I’m a Miami Dolphin football fan and Jerry a huge Giants fan. Enough said. You all know how that turned out. Dismal.

Jerry, is fiercely devoted to his Giants, never missed a game, and if he had to, he would DVR it. And he would insist no one told him the score. And he would it watch it — all three miserable hours of it. When they were behind by more than 21 points with three minutes to go, he would still have hope. I had to hold myself back from shouting, “Jerry, it’s one o’clock, your team is 21 points behind, they stink, they lost — again — go to sleep. But I didn’t dare.”

Then after the game, he would pour over prospects that he Giants might draft for the next year in hopes of improving the team. Me? Although I love my Dolphins, I don’t care that much about the future; I want to win now, today, this season!

So we endured the Giants, the Dolphins and, oh, let’s not forget the Knicks, but seriously, we should forget the Knicks, right? 

So we were hoping for a successful baseball season, but it doesn’t look promising. 

Braves and Yankees have descended from the head of the lion to the tail of the dog.

I had so much hope for my Braves. Three of our best players signed long term lucrative contracts. But, unfortunately, they traded three of our other premier players in return for some prospects. I was horrified.

How could they? I loved those players. It was becoming obvious they were going to “rebuild” the team. You know what that means — the edge of darkness, agony and no ecstasy. I can’t wait till they’re called to up to the big leagues. I want them now! Why can’t we buy a championship team the way the Yankees used to do. Key words “used to.” They can’t even manage that now.

I know the Braves management wants to rebuild the team, so that when they move into their new stadium in 2017 they can hope to fill the house. In the meantime they forgot about me and my undying loyalty.

The most momentous news in the last few weeks is that B.J. Upton will now be known as Melvin Upton. Melvin immediately proceeded to injury himself and will miss the entire preseason. That might actually be good news, unless his name change is accompanied by semi-competent baseball skills this season.

If players can take greenies, steroids and other player-enhancing drugs, perhaps Jerry and I can take mood-enhancing sports viewing meds or 3D glasses which distort the travesty actually occurring on the field.

The worst news of all, by far, is that we are not front runners. We will continue to cheer our teams as opposed to cheering the more successful teams whoever they may be.

That’s the fate and destiny of a loyal sports fan. Not withstanding inept play, steroids, A-rod, ludicrous pine tar incidents, ridiculous team-destroying trades and injury plagues, etc. we will incomprehensibly root root root for our teams and if they don’t win we feel Shaaaaaaame.

This matzoh ball recipe hits it out of the park.

Chicken Filled

Matzoh BALLS

INGREDIENTS for matzoh ball batter:

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 large eggs, slightly beaten

1 and 1/2 cup Matzo Meal

12 tbs water water

2-1/2 teaspoon salt

PREPARATION for matzoh ball mixture:

Beat eggs; add oil and matzoh meal 

Then salt. Blend together. 

Add water and mix well

Cover and chill in refrigerator.

INGREDIENTS for chicken filling:

2 medium onions finely chopped and sautéed in oil

1-3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste, divided

1 pound ground dark meat chicken 

1/2 cup fresh dill, finely chopped

3 eggs

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 to 1/2 cup matzo meal, as needed

matzo meal batter (see above)

PREPARATION for chicken filling:

In a large mixing bowl combine chicken, onions, dill, eggs, pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt with your hands until mixture comes together. Add 1/4 cup matzo meal and mix with hands to combine. Continue adding matzo meal in tablespoon increments until you can form neat rolled balls in your hands. Careful not to over handle the mixture.

To make sure mixture has enough salt, you can take a small piece of e mixture and microwave for about 12 seconds, taste and add more salt if needed.

Wet hands with cold water and roll meatballs into 1-1/4 inch balls.

Wet hands hands again and pinch off a ping pong-ball sized portion of matzo ball batter. Press the batter into a flat pancake and place an uncooked chicken meatball inside. Pinch up the edges and roll the matzo ball in your hands until the chicken is fully contained inside matzo ball batter.

Cook matzo balls in a large pot of salted water on a simmer until matzo balls and chicken are fully cooked through, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve with chicken soup.