This is my version of Greens Gumbo (Gumbo Z' Herbs).
I love New Orleans! I've been there five times. I just love the food. But as many times as I've tried supposedly 'authentic' cajun and creole recipes, it never tastes like when I'm New Orleans. My was watching the food network, Bobby Flay's Throwdown in New Orleans, doing Gumbo. They had a resterauntoor there whose name escapes me, but they also did a special clip with Leah Chase of Dooky Chase Resteraunt. She showed her Greens Gumbo. I can't keep the noises in. I'm going,"mmmmmm. Oh. Look at that!" Pretty much drooling and I couldn't even taste it. I paid attention. They showed how to do the roux, and that is the secret not shared in any recipe I've ever seen before. I went upstairs and typed up my notes before I forgot. I think it paid off. Tonight I started like I was going to make a traditional Gumbo and cooked that roux to milk-chocolate brown. I added the traditional onions and bell peppers but used tri-color peppers. I skipped the celery because my boys don't like it, (???) but added in some celery seed. Then I threw in greens instead of all the meats. It's simmering now. I'll put in some sausage and make the rice when I go back down. I'm also making cornbread. I'll fry some okra and serve on top just like bobby flay did. (Because that's the only way I like okra.) Not your traditional St Pat's fare, but I was out of potatoes. Just couldn't make the cabbage without potatoes. I was telling my son that we celebrate St Pat's for the many people who came over from Ireland a century ago. In a way this is fitting, bceause the "Micks" were not allowed in many establishments, were denied jobs, were segregated, also. So I can do soul food on St Patricks day if I want. I'll put my repice in later.
It doesn't happen often, because I HATE going to the grocery. I usually have to go home after an hour, done or not. It takes me so long to read all the ingredients to every product we bring in the house. I hate it. But yesterday and today were not so bad. I was even happy with the results. Our Costco is carrying Rice Dream rice milk again. YEAH! Costco also had Illy coffe for $4.99! I got one. I got my sister three. Not entirely happy with them though, their decaf sucks. You have to buy 3 lbs of it to learn that. Or in my case, 6lbs because you didn't remember trying it last year and not liking it. Duh. Our local grocery had many of the things I needed on sale tonight. Including their decaf coffee that tastes like Maxwell house brand. I stocked up on diet caf-free pop and organic ketchup. (insert your own joke here) And tonight I found that Duncan Hines now has more cakes we can eat, at least most of us. I'm afraid that the box cakes still need egg, and most of the time our nephew is celebrating with us when we have cake, so I'll still be making the silver white cake and her chocolate sister, mostly. I believe that recipe came from the "Baking Without Eggs" cookbook. But I like variety. And I LOVE cake! Duncan Hines Moist Delux Spice Cake used to be the only commercial brand we could find- the only mix at a regular grocer that didn't have milk. Tonight I was reading the ingredients again. The following Duncan HInes Moist Delux boxed cakes did not list milk in their ingredients lists:
Decadent Carrot Cake (the one with real carrots and raisins)
Lemon
German Chocolate
Red Velvet
Spice
Sometimes Duncan Hines has two sorts of a similar flavor, so remember to look for "Moist Delux" and always read the ingredients. Things change all the time. We've been burned by that. The chocolate flavors may have been milk free before; I don't think I read them. Prior to the 2006 labeling laws going into effect, we stayed away from chocolate all together, because most chocolate has milk. And Little Boy Blue doesn't like chocolate even when mommy buys the expensive special milk-free kind for him. So I have given up trying to convert him. We don't need a whole cake as it is, there's no way I'm getting a chocolate cake just for me. Mmmmm....chocolate cake....
(Sorry. Had a Homer moment.)
I wanted to get a few prayer requests in. If you pray, please take a moment to remember these people whom I care about:
A friend's mom in chemo for breast cancer, for the second time.
My sister's friend with breast cancer who is in treatment.
My friend's dad who just came home from the hospital for a heart attack and a complicated cardiac surgery.
My friend, his wife and their daughter with special needs, that they get some good news soon and find peace.
My son who is clearly worrying about his safety with the food allergy.
My nephew that his asthma and allergies can be controlled with medicine.
Me. I can always use your prayers.
Thank you.
