Tuesday, March 3, 2009

A LITTLE GUMBO HISTORY

Gumbo is a Louisiana soup or stew, which reflects and blends the rich cuisine of regional Indian, French, Spanish, and African cultures. The word "gumbo" is derived from various Bantu dialects (Southern & Central Africa) terms for okra (i.e. quin gumbo, grugombo, gumbo, gombo, ngombo and first appeared in print in 1805 (The word GUMBO is one of very few African language words brought over by slaves which have entered the English language. Some of the others are goober or goober pea (peanut) also of Bantu dialect origin, Yam from West Africa and cooter (turtle) of Bantu and Mandingo origin. Gumbo has been called the greatest contribution of Louisiana kitchens to American cuisine. Gumbo is one of foods that led to the development of African American cuisine. If you have any question or clarification or maybe your family has a recipe you would like me to add, I would love comments this will help me create a place were you would enjoy returning to.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS OF MARCH BLOG

Oh my it’s March already we are definitely marching through this year. It’s still a little chilly out side, how about some Gumbo. There are a lot of step to make a great Gumbo, this month there are only two recipes, my mothers in law Gumbo recipe and my fathers Gumbo recipes. I will go over the process step by step over this month so check back often and you to will be cookin’ up the best Gumbo on the West Coast. To make a great Gumbo you need to know how to make the roux it is the base for all Gumbo’s. There are no hard and fast rules for making gumbo beyond the basic roux, okra or filĂ© powder, and your imagination. Gumbo is one such recipe give it a try.