Jew-dle Kugel!

While I'm not really a practicing Jew, I like the tradition of the holidays. I think whatever we all celebrate, we can all agree that food really makes the holidays. Before I left for college, my mother wrote down all the family recipes and gave them to me in a little accordion folder. So tonight, I cracked open the recipe box and found a noodle kugel that I have loved since I was little. Kugel was originally a sort of dump recipe that eastern european Jews would use. They would combine the best vegetables and meats that they had at the end of the week and bake it into a delicious sabbath meal. Ever since the historic Jewish discovery of lo mein, kugel has been less popular except on family occasions, such as Hanukkah. This particular kugel is my grandmother's best friend's recipe. It's basically upside-down noodle cheesecake. Mind the measurements, but I'm giving you exactly what it says on the index card. Get ready for excellence:

1 lb fine egg noodles
1 stick butter
1 pint sour cream
1/2 cup farmer's cheese (or ricotta)
1 cup (or 8 oz) cream cheese
3 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar

for topping:
1 package sliced almonds
1 jar orange marmalade or apricot jelly
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
1 stick melted butter

Earlier in the day, set out your butter, farmer's cheese and cream cheese so that they are room temperature by the time you're ready to cook. Once you're ready to start, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. in a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, farmer's cheese, sour cream, butter, white sugar and eggs until smooth. Cook the noodles in a large pot with a pinch of salt. the noodles shouldn't take more than 3 minutes to cook, which is why we save them for last. Once the noodles are done, strain them and toss them into your sweet cheesy mixture. pour this mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish.

For the topping, melt the butter in a small saucepan or in the microwave in a dish. while you're doing this, empty your marmalade into a medium mixing bowl. pour your sugar and almonds in and mix evenly. Add your butter and cinnamon and stir to combine. Spread that all the crap over your cheesy noodles for a crispy sweet crust.

just like this crust

Stick that tasty mess in the oven for 45 minutes. let it cool, then chow your face off.