Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Apple-Pineapple Noodle Kugel

Apple-Pineapple Noodle Kugel is so creamy you'd swear this dish has cream cheese in it! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #kugel #jewishrecipes

What's your feeling about sweet and savory in the same meal? 
Do you enjoy the mix of flavors, 
or never the twain of salty and sweet shall meet? 

Me? I'm a fan of combining the two. 
I love syrup with my turkey bacon or sausage; 
fruit and cheese in my tossed green salad, 
chocolate-covered pretzels, 
 cranberry sauce with turkey

…and I love a sweet noodle kugel with my beef or poultry entree. 

What's a kugel, you ask?

If you aren't familiar with noodle kugel
it's a staple of Jewish cooking, also known as noodle pudding.  
 The Yiddish word for noodles is lokshen...
 My father-in-law used to sing this song (to the tune of Did You Ever See A Lassie):

"Oh, the bubby cooked lokshen, cooked lokshen, cooked lokshen.
"Oh, the bubby cooked lokshen, cooked lokshen, all day."

Just be glad you can't actually hear me singing that as I write this.
 
Kugel can be eaten any time, but it's traditionally served as a side dish on Rosh Hashana -- the Jewish new year -- or when breaking the fast after Yom Kippur.
There are many varieties of kugel -- some with cream cheese, or sour cream, or different kinds of fruit. 
It's kinda sorta like a bread pudding,
except that no one eats bread pudding with their brisket.
I wonder why not, actually; it is bread, after all.
But I digress.  
 
Apple-Pineapple Noodle Kugel is so creamy you'd swear this dish has cream cheese in it! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #kugel #jewishrecipes

The first lesson in making a kugel is learning how to pronounce it.
Say it like this:  
KUH-gul: "Kuh" sounds like the 'oo' good; 
"gul" sounds like 'gle' in 'angle.' 
 Emphasis on the "KUH." 
It's not KOO-gul. Got it?  
 
Apple-Pineapple Noodle Kugel is so creamy you'd swear this  dish has cream cheese in it! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #kugel #jewishrecipes

 On Monday, we are invited to my BFF's for the second night of Rosh Hashana.
A friend of mine gave me her recipe for Apple-Pineapple Kugel.
She's been making it for years, but I don't know who to credit the recipe to. 
If anyone knows, please let me know.

Even though my friend told me this is always a big hit when she makes it,
 I had to give the kugel a test run last night.
I didn't want to taste it for the first time when I brought it to my friend's.
I mean, what if?

Apple-Pineapple Noodle Kugel is so creamy you'd swear this dish has cream cheese in it! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #kugel #jewishrecipes

 I admit I'm a bit of a canned fruit snob, and was a little concerned. 
I got over that real fast once I tasted it.
The apple pie filling is really key to the consistency and flavor.
It was delish!!!
It is so creamy, that I can swear there is sour cream in it, but no!
Even though it can serve about 20 people, 

I could have sat down with a fork 
and polished the whole thing off right then and there.
Okay, that's gross, maybe not all of it, but definitely half.  

Apple-Pineapple Noodle Kugel is so creamy you'd swear this dish has cream cheese in it! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #kugel #jewishrecipes

  The recipe is super-easy...if it wasn't, I wouldn't be making it.
Here are a few tips:
 
Cut each pineapple chunk into four pieces. 
The apples in the pie filling should be cut to a similar size.
Don't sweat over this - it really doesn't matter too much.
Make sure you add all of the gooey filling, along with the apples.

 The kugel can be made in advance.
You can freeze it, or keep in the fridge for a couple of days. 
To reheat, take it out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature,  
cover with foil, and then reheat for 30 minutes at 350°.

Kugel can also be reheated in the microwave.
It's best to do this by cutting it into serving portions and heating on a plate, 
rather than reheating it in the baking dish.
It's easiest to cut kugel into neat pieces after it's been in the fridge.  

Noodle kugel is best served warm out of the oven,
but it's also good at room temp, or even cold...
in the middle of the night, or for breakfast...which, er, I have never done
Nope, not me.    

Okay, I think you're ready!

Apple-Pineapple Noodle Kugel is so creamy you'd swear this dish has cream cheese in it! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #kugel #jewishrecipes

Apple and Pineapple Kugel

12 oz. wide egg noodles (I used No-Yolk)  
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted (I used unsalted)
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1  21-oz. can apple pie filling
1 20 oz. can pineapple chunks in heavy syrup, drained 
cinnamon 

Preheat oven to 350°.
Cook noodles according to package directions.
Cut each pineapple chunk into four pieces.
Cut the apples in the pie filling to a similar size as the pineapple pieces (the apples in the filling tend to be large slices).
Mix together eggs, butter, sugar and vanilla.
Add egg mixture to noodles.
Add apples and pineapple to noodles mixture. 
Put noodles into 13 X 9 baking dish.
Sprinkle top with cinnamon.
Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes. Top should be lightly browned.
   
Apple-Pineapple Noodle Kugel is so creamy you'd swear this dish has cream cheese in it! | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #kugel #jewishrecipes

I hope I've convinced you to consider adding noodle pudding  
to your ethnic repertoire of foods. 
 What, you don't eat Italian, Mexican, Greek and Indian food? 
So what's wrong with a little Jewish home cooking? 

Wishing those who celebrate a Happy and Healthy New Year!


24 comments:

  1. What's wrong with it?? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (say it again). Now I'm singing lol.

    I grew up in an area that was 90% Jewish, so I am very familiar with kugel. I've had some that were 'eh', and some that were WOW! If you like this one, I'm sure it's fabulous. :)

    P.S. I got a little package from my daughter from Greece yesterday of sone goodies. Must be my week ;)

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  2. What's wrong with it?? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (say it again). Now I'm singing lol.

    I grew up in an area that was 90% Jewish, so I am very familiar with kugel. I've had some that were 'eh', and some that were WOW! If you like this one, I'm sure it's fabulous. :)

    P.S. I got a little package from my daughter from Greece yesterday of sone goodies. Must be my week ;)

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  3. Amy, I always appreciate your culinary capers, and your kugel looks and sounds absolutely scrumptious!

    Poppy

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  4. I have tried Kugel and I loved it! I didn't have apples and pineapple in it though so I want to try this one. Looks so delish! Thanks for the pronunciation...I was saying Koo-gul!!!

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  5. Hi Amy,
    Wow this sounds amazing. I have never had this before and yours looks yummy. TFS the recipe.
    Wishing you a nice weekend.
    Julie

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  6. Whoo! I'm glad I've been pronouncing it correctly. I guess growing up N.Y. helped me get it right. I think I might have to try this. Have a great week.

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  7. What a unique Kugel!! Apple Kugel is very well known here but with pineapple it's new to me and I have to try it. Sounds super delicious

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  8. I have not been pronouncing it correctly ! But I could certainly EAT it correctly...it looks delicous! :)

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  9. I have not been pronouncing it correctly ! But I could certainly EAT it correctly...it looks delicous! :)

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  10. I love trying different traditional foods like this and this looks wonderful Amy! Even though my roots are not Jewish ones, it often seems that my Amish Mennonite roots have similar foods and words! I must give Kugel a try (it's a fun word to say too - thanks for the lesson). Amish homemade noodles are sometimes called Spaetzle. Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  11. Wow this sounds amazing. It really looks delicious! I have never had this before and yours looks yummy. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. Since I'm not Jewish, I've never tried this or even heard of it. It looks really good though. The recipe looks easy to make as well. I bet it will be a huge success next Monday!

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  13. I have not had noodle kugel in so long! That looks really good...I would be happy to take a square off your hands!

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  14. I made this last night and all I can say is YUMMY! My husband grandfather loved Kugel but we had never had it. It is going in my dessert file as this will be made in my home again. So easy and ingredients that you can keep in the pantry ready to go.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

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  15. I've been pronouncing kugel wrong all these years ... oops! :) This sounds so delicious!

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  16. I'm always so amazed by you! This looks so good! Pinned and tweeted. I appreciate you taking the time to party with us. I hope to see you on Monday at 7. Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls

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  17. This sounds really good!! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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  18. Wow! This sound AWESOME!!! We are invited yearly to a Thanksgiving "pot luck" and I always try to bring something "different" each year! I think I've found this year's highest contender!!!

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  19. Wow! This sound AWESOME!!! We are invited yearly to a Thanksgiving "pot luck" and I always try to bring something "different" each year! I think I've found this year's highest contender!!!

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  20. Hi
    My mom passed away on 2001. I have been looking for this ever since. The recipe brings fond memories. Thank you. L’SHONA Tova

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    Replies
    1. Too much sugar. Use pineapple tidbits instead , in natural juice. You can add the natural juice from the can. Saves some time and the mess. Also dice a fresh apple , with out the extra sugar , from a can. You already have enough added sugar from the recipe . Much better and better for you.
      I’ve made it this way for years , for my family and extended family !!!Everyone loves it,😊

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