I don’t have any beads for you tonight, but I do have tribute to Mardi Gras!
A day early because I have a dinner date tomorrow, so tonight we made gumbo.
Andrew [Matt’s brother] went to Tulane and stuck around [he’s there partyin’ right now!], and Matt’s dad’s wife Cheryl [as of 10.10.10!] is from Louisiana so tonight’s dinner is in their honor. After trying Chery’l’s mom’s authentic gumbo at their wedding in October, I found a jar of roux in my Christmas stocking!
I won’t share the ingredients with you (flour + vegetable oil) because I know you wouldn’t approve. But you gotta try everything once!
Yes, that is a jar of beer in the background. Matt and I shared a cocktail while we cooked!
My crockpot did a lot of the cooking –> Anson Mills grits from South Carolina!
Also photographed this afternoon – the empty bag of Terra chips! Hunger overcame me 😉
So back to the gumbo – we sautéed carrots, celery and peppers plus 2 organic chicken sausages and then added a few tbsp of the roux, a can of diced tomatoes and half a can of water plus a little Cajun seasonings.
Upon sniffing the roux, we didn’t think it was going to add a lot of flavor, but it really did! It’s quite a unique taste – one that Matt likened to “beans without beans.”
This recipe was supposed to have a cup of frozen mixed greens involved – but we forgot! So when I realized this at the last minute, I added an insta-salad to the side: spinach, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and Nawlins pe-cans
A taste of fun – Dogfish Aprihop. Surprisingly disappointing.
More business meetings. We’re choosing all the merchandise we’ll sell in the lobby – plus 1,000 other details.
Dessert was the last of Sarah’s Lindt chocolates!
Hoping to do some READING! I’m all tuckered computered out.
Becca says
First comment, woot!
Ashley says
Awesome dinner colors!!! Exciting to see the floor plans for GH…woohoo!!
Becca says
What I meant to say (before I got all excited being the first) …was that I make gumbo all of the time, but I never thought of serving it over cornmeal/grits. Silly me.
Allison @ Happy Tales says
Ohhh what are you reading currently?! I love a good book 🙂 I’m currently reading the Time Traveler’s Wife, SOOO good! Oh, and your dinner looks deeelish!
Errign says
That’s my most FAVORITE book. I actually have to do a prose recitation on Thursday for a public speaking class & I’m reading pages 1 & 2. 🙂
Amy at TheSceneFromMe says
I don’t blame you for emptying that bag of chips. Nowadays, those bags are filled with so much air and not much product!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I love cooking with roux. It adds such wonderful flavor to whatever you are using it in. Blonde roux, not so much, but a dark roux? Delicious!
cathyb@brightbakes says
love gumbo! really need to work on a batch again…your’s is so colorful too.
cathy b.
Errign says
1. That gumbo looks fabulous.
2. I have a wicked craving for grits now.
3. I’m not sure if saying wicked, which is SUCH a New England thing & grits in the same sentence is okay. 🙂
Christin@purplebirdblog says
I say wicked all the time, and I’m from Texas! 😉
Errign says
Excellent. Fabulous word.
Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete says
How exciting to do all of that planning!
The color of the gumbo vs. the grits is so beautiful.
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
That planning sounds like it is coming right along. woot. woot 🙂
Emily @ Savory and Savage says
MMMM, gumbo….
Oh, so fun that you included shots of the floor plan!!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
The gumbo looks wonderful!
All computered out…yes, I am there most days myself 🙂
So cute that you shared a beer…in a glass jar. love it!
Megan says
Still holding out hope that the merchandise you’re selling is going to include the great harvest tees!
Stacy @ LoveDiscoveryGratitude says
Gumbo is bomb.com!
My crock pot is definitely something I need to use more. 🙂
Alaina says
I don’t think I’ve ever tried gumbo before. Your dish looks good! 🙂
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
Dinner looks great!
Lauren @chigallauren says
Your gumbo looks amazing, and with grits…I die!
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy says
We use Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning on EVERYTHING in our house. So good!
Emily says
Sooo excited for more about your new GH! Cannot wait to see it 🙂
Baking 'n' Books says
That looks soooo good! Never had Gumbo – but looks thick how I like stews.
Looks like mushrooms are in it actually!
What are you reading now?
Namaste Gurl says
What a fun dinner- you always come up with the most creative meals! Gotta give it to you for sure:)
Happy planning and working!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Yup, I’m a big believe in trying everything once no matter once inside.
Emily @ One Sweet Vegan says
I’ve never had grits. Or gumbo. It looks good, though!
Camille says
What a fun dinner! I have a friend from high school that goes to Tulane and she loves it there.
Sarah @ OneLoveSarah says
that gumbo looks good and fun! I hope you sell some awesome goodies in the lobby!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
I haven’t had gumbo or anything gumbo-like in years! My old riding instructor made some for me one Summer while staying at her house. She’s originally from New Orleans, so I guess it was a good bowl to make last for all these years. 😛
Mama Pea says
I love Tony C.’s.
I began to suffer from cooking insecurity when a contestant on Top Chef got sent home a few episodes ago for making her gumbo with it 🙂
Kelsey @ Clean Teen Kelsey says
I looove Tony’s Creole seasoning! So good. Looks like you had fun. 🙂
JenATX says
I would approve of the roux!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
yay food from NOLA! abe and i were there over xmas. got so sick but it was worth it.
Melissa A. says
I use roux whenever a recipe calls for it. I didn’t know it was supposed to be a bad thing. It’s not a lot of fat and flour usually.
KathEats says
In general it’s totally not a bad thing, but this guy had trans-fat in it 🙁
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
what’s wrong with a little flour and vegetable oil? besides, it’s mardi gras week…live it up 😉
KathEats says
It wasn’t just flour + veggie oil…add in a little hydrogenateds to the mix. I had to try it though, and a little won’t hurt.
The Robertsons of Mumbai says
It must be so exciting to have that floor plan in your hands! As someone who would also like to open a food service business sometime in the future, I look forward to following the rest of your journey to open your GH! 🙂
Runeatrepeat says
Are you going to carry the pepita butter? I’m in love with it.
Ellie@fitforthesoul says
Woww the gumbo looks amazing! I think I’ve tried it once before, but anything of that sort is yummilicious. OoOoO have fun with floor plan work! Sounds so crazy 😛
Lisa says
I’ve never had gumbo. Then again, I’m from the west coast of Canada…not too much gumbo action over here!
Jackie @ Seejacrun says
I never tried gumbo before but those pictures look amazing!!
Sarah Rose says
Gumbo looks so delish!
Emma (Namaste Everyday) says
Dogfish head, disappointing?!? crap.
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
Mm your gumbo looks yummy!
megan @ blackberries for jam says
Lucky for me that you celebrated a day early! Now I can recreate this as my festive meal (minus, the special roux, of course). Too bad about the beer – surprising, because I tend to think Dogfish Head can do no wrong!
Katie says
I can’t wait to see your store when it opens and you share photos on here! It will be amazing, seeing all your hardwork become reality : )
My fiance loves gumbo, I have been looking to find a gumbo crockpot recipe ; )
Christie {Nourishing Eats} says
Your photos are particularly appealing to me, I love the lighting and the contrast of colors!!
Lauren says
I can’t believe I’ve never had gumbo. Your version looks incredible!!
Stephanie @ Walking my Talk says
That gumbo looks gooooooooood! I need to be a more adventurous cook. I’m a VERY adventurous eater, but cooking…not so much.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
Happy Fat Tuesday:-) Great dinner to celebrate!
Sophie says
Gotta have the roux! It doesn’t look like much, but it adds so much flavor.
I actually thought about you the other day when I bought Tonys at the store. They actually make a lite version now that I like better. But, I’m in Mississippi where you can get so much creole seasonings and food, it’s unreal.
I’ve never thought to add grits, we always use rice. I might have to do that some time!
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
I am so excited for fat Tuesday! Forch I remembered to wear something cute:)
Toni says
How exciting! I remember when we had our floor plans made for our business – it was probably one of the most exciting/scary feelings in the world!!! It’ll just breeze by now, the next thing you know the bakery will opened for business!!
btw, are you using Quickbooks as your acct software? I think I saw that somewhere!
KathEats says
Yup!
Faith @ lovelyascharged says
Ahh, Mardi Gras. I grew up in Mississippi not too far from N.O (under an hour), and I loved going over as a kid to take part in all the fun. I’d love to go back now that I’m able to partake in all the festivities, haha
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
I’ve never had gumbo before. Yours looks fabulous, especially with that side of grits!
Beth says
I’m sad you were disappointed by the Aprihop. It’s typically my favorite of the Dogfish seasonals (although I haven’t had any yet this year–scandalous!). Our family beach house is about 6 miles from where Dogfish is brewed, so they have a special place in our heart.
KathEats says
Matt said last year’s was much better. I thought it was OK but there was nothing apricot about it. I like many other Dogfishes!
kate@ahealthypassion says
dinner looks awesome I love gumbo hopefully ill make some tonight 🙂
Lauren says
Hey, no harsh words on the roux–everything in moderation!
Also, wanted to let you know that after years of reading healthy living blogs like yours on a daily basis, I finally decided to start my own! In my second post, I even referenced your kale chip tutorial video! Anyway, thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Johanna B says
Today is Mardi Gras. In her honor (I grew up in New Orleans) I made good old fashioned south Louisiana jambalaya. My kitchen smelled like home all day. Deeelicious.
Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me says
Is it sad that I had no idea Mardi Gras was even happening? lol!
Kelly says
I live just north of New Orleans and love reading your blog everyday! I was so excited to read your tribute to Mardi Gras! esp. with Tony Chacheres! Glad the deliciousness of our culture is enjoyed everywhere!
Melissa says
Roux, yes! Celery and bell pepper, yes! Carrots and greens have never been in any kind of gumbo I’ve ever had and I am from a suberb just 10 miles west of downtown NOLA. I do like the thought of putting it over grits though.
Nicole says
Hi Kath! I totally agree on the Dogfish Aprihops- dissapointing! I loved Dogfish Punkin Ale and thought that the Aprihops would have more flavor than it does…. .and now you remind me we still have 2 to drink!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing says
yay for gumbo! it’s just what we had last night too. we used william sonoma’s crockpot recipe and made our own roux – it was very good and i highly recommend it! 🙂
Ashley says
That is so weird…I made gumbo the same night! And I completely forgot that it was Mardi Gras!
Jackie Smith says
Too bad about the Dogfish beer…it is way too expensive to be disappointing! My husband scored some Dogfish Pangea, which we’ve been saving for a special occasion. Dogfish is like gold here in California!
Jo @ Jo In the Kitchen says
I’ve never heard of roux before. How interesting!
Mary Frances says
Thanx for sharing the floor plans. The bistro tables are cute and nice to be right at the windows. Just wish it was a clearer picture of the whole plan, but I guess we’ll see the completed bakery soon enough. Looks like you gave up the walk-in refrigeration? Very excited for you.
KathEats says
Nope, walk-in is still there!