GUMBO!!!

I’m home this week in Marietta, GA for a conference downtown. It’s always nice to be home and spend time with my family. I live nearly 600 miles north so the time we spend together now is more than special to me. Additional bonus – I got to watch my Falcons on TV and didn’t have to spend $40 at B-Duds to do it. While watching the Falcons my dad and I made gumbo. It turned out REALLY well!


While it takes a little time and patients it’s not too hard at all. Here’s how we did it:

• First make the roux:
• In a cast iron skillet (and it must be cast iron) over low heat add one cup of oil and slowly add one cup of flower. Slowly cook this until it turns to the color of chocolate, about half an hour. Stir constantly! It is important to never walk away from the stove because your roux will burn quickly. Just keep stirring, your patients will be rewarded.
• When your roux has a nice brown color add two copped onions and two chopped bell peppers. Cook for 3 – 5 minutes.
• Transfer roux and vegetables to a pot.
• Add 1lb andouille sausage, sliced (we added hot andouille) and one pound cubed grilled chicken. I like the grilled chicken, it had good flavor and really fell apart during the cooking making the hot andouille the star of the show.
• Add 3 bay leaves
• Add 48oz. of chicken broth.
• Bring to a boil.
• While you wait for the pot to boil add the following:
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• Once you reach a boil, lower the temperature and simmer for two hours.
• After your two hours are up stir in 1 tbs file’ powder
• Stir in fresh parsley and several chopped green onions

To serve ladle into a bowl and add a scoop of well cooked rice to the center.

As I stated above, this is a pretty simple recipe but it does take time and patients. It’s well worth the effort!

I think the best part was getting to spend some time with my dad. There aren’t many better ways to spend an afternoon than cooking an incredible meal while watching football. My dad is by far one of the greatest people you will ever meet and I miss him and my mother an awful lot. What a great afternoon.