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It's National Gumbo Day?
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It's National Gumbo Day? Ok...well maybe that's not true. I just wanted to sound as well informed and smart as the wonderful Pocogato. But since I pale in comparison to our "little kitty", let me just say it was Gumbo day at my house. I love Seafood Gumbo and have spent years tweaking and mastering the dish. It started with a recipe and<b> lesson </font></b>I got from a girlfriends mom, during a stint I spent in Louisiana. She was a wonderful, friendly, Cajun lady, who made us dinner more than once. As she explained it to me, making great Gumbo is a lot like life. If you don't fill your life with good stuff, it can never be as good as it should be. Try to fill it with poor choices and half ass stuff, and it's gonna turn out the same. So we only use the highest quality ingredients when making Gumbo. All organic fresh vegetables...better if they were grown in your garden.  Patience is needed. And the attention to the little details. Too many people rush through life. But life is not a race. It's a journey. When making Roux, you have to take your time and cook it to the right color. Has to reach that chocolate brown, or it's just not gumbo roux. Patience is needed to cook it slow, and steady. Never, ever stop stirring. If the house catches on fire, keep stirring and let the fireman just fight it around you. It takes a good 45 minutes. (hint, she said her mom used to cook a roux that took 4 hours or better). Damn.  Don't stop caring halfway through. Many people she told me, just give up half way through. Sorta like life. "I'm tired of this, just dump the okra in." Show some tenacity and stick with it...the okra needs to be cooked in a pan with a little oil. Till the "strings" are no longer there. If you just dump it in...you might as well never started in the first place.  Then learn to relax, and let life run it's course. Simmer it for a bit. Let it "rest" for two or three hours, before you finish it out with the seafood. She said, two many times we're so much in a hurry to get somewhere, we forget to notice the stuff that is all around us. Stop, relax and enjoy your journey.  Finally, you hit the conclusion. If you followed everything, exactly, you are rewarded with success and happiness. And in this case, fantastic Shrimp and Crab Gumbo.  I remember the girlfriend was a lot of fun and seemed so easy going. And this is when we were in our early 20's. But I'll never forget her mom. She was an intense lady, could be quick to anger, but if she liked you, you couldn't have a better friend. She was fun to be around and made me some great dinners. Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, great Boiled Crawfish, and of course, Seafood Gumbo. One of my all time favorites. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx |
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I've tweaked the spices a bit, but follow her "process" to the tee. Unbelievable Gumbo. Sometimes I go crazy and it's loaded with crab, shrimp, scallops, crawfish, and any other seafood that has the misfortune to be anywhere near me at the moment. It was a great day, and a great Gumbo.  " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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So you're saying life is just a bowl of gumbo. Not cherries or chocolates?  When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
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the first time i had boudin..i said wtf? that looks like a dogturd in a condom..but the spicy tasting sausage? oooweee..dat cajun spice..and that gumbo looks just the ticket as the nights get colder.. woop woop
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You cant beat gumbo, the okra gives it it's flavor...seafood or chicken, on a cold day it will fix you right up , and it is a time consuming process, but worth the wait... Stop by at lonlyforlove2 also see Lunch with Lonly , we get snow tomorrow Check my blog on New Community, "A photo of my big Pecker" also, " My Sunday afternoon with the kids'
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11/10/2018 5:02 pm |
never had that dish before but looks like it may be good..I make big pots of home made chili but its just me here to eat it so by times it doesn't seem like I want to take the time or effort.
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So you're saying life is just a bowl of gumbo. Not cherries or chocolates? Now chocolate. That's it's own food group. Without chocolate, life isn't worth living. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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the first time i had boudin..i said wtf? that looks like a dogturd in a condom..but the spicy tasting sausage? oooweee..dat cajun spice..and that gumbo looks just the ticket as the nights get colder.. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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You cant beat gumbo, the okra gives it it's flavor...seafood or chicken, on a cold day it will fix you right up , and it is a time consuming process, but worth the wait... " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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never had that dish before but looks like it may be good..I make big pots of home made chili but its just me here to eat it so by times it doesn't seem like I want to take the time or effort. There are rules to perfect chile, and around here, we take them real serious.  And you're right ..good chile is time consuming. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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You know...speaking as someone who learned to BBQ from my grandfather, it's amazing how many recipes down here start off with "one beer". LOL Turtle soup is pretty good. I like it best with soft shell turtle though. That's really pretty awesome, haven't heard anyone mention Gopher Stew in a very long time. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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It was good...Funny it's one of those things that come out better in big batches. This was a 1/4 batch. Usually I make it and the whole family, neighbors and anyone lost in the area come by for a bowl of Pappy's Gumbo. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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If you say it any other way, than Nawlins...you're probably a tourist. LOL. Thanks...I really liked that lady. And her points were valid. And damn that woman could cook. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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I'll pass on the gumbo. Yeah, I know I probably just got banned. lol But I make some awesome chili! Pagan  Hmmmm....I know I left that wand around here somewhere!
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Great analogy! And while you were cooking the gumbo, I was cooking an industrial sized batch of spaghetti sauce... Nowhere near the same level of complexity... I'll have to cook gumbo one day. ... is there another way to look at it Going Too Fucking Far NEW Blog Features RevealeD O O A Foolproof Method Posted Over on that NEW site O O
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No, it's me drinking wine and being obtuse... I've eaten at Mother's more than once. I was just projecting. ..maybe...or just drinking wine. You pick " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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Thanks bubba. Gumbo is great...but there's nothing wrong with a good pizza. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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I'll pass on the gumbo. Yeah, I know I probably just got banned. lol But I make some awesome chili! Do you put beans in your chile? " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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11/10/2018 8:26 pm |
Yum, looks delicious!! A plus for pictures. I am a picture kinda cook. I’ll be making some chili next week.
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Thank me for making you talk about this!! ROUX is the entire key. Great food porn, my friend. I had Gumbo two weeks ago at a place called EAUX in Portland- check it out on Trip Advisor where I am a happy traveler. (Virtual Symposium Group) use Virtual Symposium Group
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Great analogy! And while you were cooking the gumbo, I was cooking an industrial sized batch of spaghetti sauce... Nowhere near the same level of complexity... I'll have to cook gumbo one day. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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Yum, looks delicious!! A plus for pictures. I am a picture kinda cook. I’ll be making some chili next week. To be honest, I was just gonna do the pictures. But then got thinking about the ex girlfriend and her mom, and decided to post some of her wisdom " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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Thank me for making you talk about this!! ROUX is the entire key. Great food porn, my friend. I had Gumbo two weeks ago at a place called EAUX in Portland- check it out on Trip Advisor where I am a happy traveler. Make sure you notify us when it really is National Gumbo Day. LOL " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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My Mum taught me to make a roux....it's the basis for so many good dishes and as you say, patience is required, I would be using meat or chicken in mine....I don't eat seafood. ~~Anais Nin~~
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I hope you enjoy your Gumbo and have a Blessed Sunday.. Seduce the mind and see what a wonderful adventure the body will take you on.. 
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My Mum taught me to make a roux....it's the basis for so many good dishes and as you say, patience is required, I would be using meat or chicken in mine....I don't eat seafood. And yeah, a good Roux is great in a lot of stuff. I make a chicken stew that calls for Roux. Just not as dark. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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